The suspects in the Arnhem fire last March deny starting the fire or accuse each other. The fire destroyed ten buildings in the city center.
On March 8, three suspects were arrested. They are Mark V. (31) and Koert H. (57) from Arnhem and 42-year-old Ricky N., who has no fixed place of residence.
According to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), they set fire to a container with paper and cardboard that was in a narrow alley. The fire spread to the historic buildings.
The men were on their way to the late-night shop at night when they came across the container. Camera footage allegedly shows H. saying to his co-defendants: “Hey, let’s set that thing on fire.” N. is said to have replied: “You can do that.” N. told the judges that he had not taken H.’s proposal seriously.
According to V.’s lawyer, there was no smoke development to be seen when they left. The lawyers of the three suspects asked the court on Tuesday to lift or suspend their pre-trial detention. The suspects deny starting the fire or accuse each other.
The fire in the center of Arnhem raged on March 6 and destroyed an entire residential block. Part of the historic facades of burned-out buildings on Varkensstraat has been demolished.