The suspects, aged between 46 and 67, are accused of being members of a terrorist organization, including groups such as Common Law Netherlands Earth and the Volksraad, according to a statement from the Public Prosecution Service (OM). These are group chats where members actively devised plans for an armed uprising against the Dutch government.
The plans became so concrete that the OM decided to intervene. Discussions in chats, documents, and meetings included topics such as “crippling government units” and citizen arrests. There were also mentions of killing Ron König, the mayor of Deventer.
In the same city, the OM claims that three suspects made preparations to establish a local militia. This group could be “mobilized in the event of mass arrests.”
Several suspects have also acquired weapons for this purpose. Earlier this month, the OM had already demanded prison sentences of six and four years for Rinke L. (26) and Matthijs H. (28) for, among other things, supplying those weapons. According to the OM, the alleged arms dealers were aware of the terrorist intentions.
During previous hearings, the alleged sovereigns spoke out. The 67-year-old Neeltje B. stated that her “bubble of conspiracies has burst.” She revealed that she had been involved in disinformation for thirteen years. B. is viewed by the OM as one of the founders of the group Common Law Netherlands Earth.
The 46-year-old Arjan van den B. claimed that he “wanted to help the population.” Marco M. maintains his position that “the government has been infiltrated by malicious actors.”
The court is set to deliver its verdict on November 28 in the cases of the eight suspected sovereigns and the two alleged arms suppliers. The suspects are awaiting their sentencing after months of pre-trial detention in freedom.
