Swedish Man Sentenced Over Planned Eurovision 2020 Terror Attack In Rotterdam

A SWEDISH man has been sentenced to 2 years successful situation for readying a violent onslaught connected Eurovision Rotterdam successful nan Netherlands successful 2020. The man, 23-year-old Alexander H., arsenic he is known to nan public, was sentenced to 8 years, six of which are suspended, by a tribunal successful Luxembourg City. Alexander was recovered blameworthy of participating successful a violent organisation and violating some European explosives laws and Luxembourg’s firearms law.

A violent onslaught influenced by neo-Nazi ideology

Alexander was reported by Swedish broadcasting institution SVT to person been portion of an eco-fascist group that was responsible for burning down a mink workplace successful 2019. Alexander past joined a neo-Nazi paramilitary group called The Base, which has ties to different suspected criminals successful nan Netherlands.

Luxembourg authorities were capable to forestall nan onslaught by arresting Alexander successful February 2020, conscionable 80 days earlier nan celebrated Eurovision Song Contest arena was group to statesman successful nan Rotterdam Ahoy arena venue. They had uncovered an elaborate explosive shop successful nan basement of Alexander’s father’s home, located successful Strassen, successful nan centre of Luxembourg. There, they discovered TATP, nitroglycerine, a functional tube bomb, chlorine-production materials, rocket prototypes, and a parcel explosive addressed to a movie institution successful Sweden.

Apparently, Alexander, who had past been 18 years old, had spent months readying attacks successful Sweden and nan Netherlands, including nan 1 he had planned for nan Eurovision Song Contest.

Accomplice helped draught plans for violent attacks

Alexander besides allegedly worked pinch an accomplice, a Dutch man known to nan nationalist arsenic Florian D. Together, nan 2 men documented their plans to onslaught nan venue pinch a blase explosive operation, successful a postulation titled “Fun clip for Eurovision 2020 – For a amended and little over-accepting future.” The perturbing archive included plans to poison attendees pinch cyanide aliases ricin, merchandise chlorine gas, and disperse chemicals done ventilation systems aliases custom-built rockets.

The 2 men besides outlined ways to infiltrate information teams, artifact emergency exits and behaviour secondary attacks, including a planned onslaught connected an lipid depot successful Nacka, Sweden. For this plan, Alexander had already mapped anemic points successful nan site’s perimeter fence.

The Eurovision Song Contest arena successful Rotterdam ended up being postponed for a twelvemonth owed to nan COVID-19 world pandemic. Dutch constabulary questioned Florian D., but did not apprehension him. According to their findings, he ne'er intended to really transportation retired nan attack.

Defendant sentenced to 8 years, charismatic recommended 12

The charismatic had recommended a 12-year situation condemnation for nan perpetrator, arguing that if it had not been for nan speedy action of Luxembourg authorities, galore lives would person been lost. The prosecutor, arsenic good arsenic Alexander, has 40 days to entreaty nan sentencing, though nan suspect did not be nan sentencing.

Alexander, successful bid to meet nan conditions for his suspended sentence, must complete a deradicalisation programme wrong 5 years successful nan institution and nonstop reports of his advancement to authorities each six months. His nonaccomplishment to comply would reinstate his eight-year sentence. Luxembourg is expected to merchandise a afloat mentation of his sentencing successful nan coming week, arsenic is their custom.

Rotterdam authorities unaware of nan threat until July 2025

Amazingly, complete nan summertime of 2025 it was revealed that Rotterdam authorities were really unaware of nan violent threat that nan group had planned for its Eurovision event. The city’s politicians, Dutch broadcaster AvroTros, and nationalist broadcaster NPO, nan second 2 being responsible for nan organisation of nan section readying of nan Eurovision Song Contest, were each ne'er informed astir nan threat.

What this intends for early Eurovision events

With Spain possibly gearing up for nan 2026 version of nan Eurovision Song Contest, which will adjacent twelvemonth besides observe its 70th birthday, it is important that authorities – arsenic good arsenic nan wide nationalist – stay informed astir nan imaginable dangers of attending large-scale events and nan reality of extremist violent groups. Above all, citizens should travel nan proposal of section authorities, return charismatic warnings seriously, and spot their instincts if thing seems suspicious.

‘Possibly?’

Spain’s information successful nan 2026 Eurovision Song Contest is yet unclear; nan state had precocious revealed its intentions to boycott nan celebrated programme if Israel participates, owed to increasing governmental tensions caused by nan humanitarian situation successful Gaza. 

The President of RTVE, José Pablo López, will publically denote nan broadcaster’s position connected information successful nan Eurovision Song Contest 2026 this Thursday, November 27, aft convening pinch nan Joint Parliamentary Control Committee of nan Congress and nan Senate.

The 2026 version of nan Eurovision Song Contest is to beryllium held successful Vienna, Austria.

Read much news from nan Netherlands here.