Prosecutors in The Hague said a 37-year-old man accused of a bomb attack on the headquarters of the Dutch centrist party D66 was suspected of acting with terrorist intent. The suspect appeared for arraignment in The Hague on Monday, where a judge ordered his detention extended by two weeks, according to court proceedings cited by prosecutors.
The attack happened on May 8, when a bomb exploded after being pushed through a letter slot at the D66 party’s headquarters in the city center. Prime Minister Rob Jetten said the blast occurred during a meeting attended by about 30 youth wing members, and he said those present were startled but unharmed.
In a written statement, the The Hague Public Prosecutor’s Office said the man was suspected of causing an explosion with terrorist intent. The statement said an explosion targeting the headquarters of a political party “instills fear in a part of the population,” adding that for that reason the “terrorist motive has been charged.”
Prosecutors also said the suspect has not said anything about a possible motive. His name was not released, in line with Dutch privacy regulations, the AP reported.
Jetten, who took office in February, told reporters during his weekly news conference that it would be “pretty futile if you think you can intimidate politicians with these kinds of actions.” He spoke as police and prosecutors continued working through evidence and the suspect’s legal situation following the blast.
The AP reported the bombing was the second attack on the D66 headquarters building in less than a year. In September, during a right-wing demonstration that turned into violence, rioters vandalized the office just weeks ahead of national elections.