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Dutch man accused of ATM blasts in Offenbach!
A 36-year-old Dutchman is on trial for blowing up ATMs in Offenbach and Vienna. Investigations were ongoing after his arrest.
Dutch man accused of ATM blasts in Offenbach!
Crime around ATMs is becoming increasingly bold. A 36-year-old man from Utrecht, who is linked to several explosions in Germany and Austria, has now been charged by the Frankfurt Public Prosecutor's Office. The allegations are serious: He is suspected of having committed explosive explosions, serious theft and negligent bodily harm. What is particularly explosive is that this incident is not isolated, but appears to be part of an overarching trend that Europol recently highlighted. According to Spiegel, such criminal activities are becoming more and more common in Europe.
The man's crimes relate to two spectacular ATM explosions on May 5, 2023 at Bieberer Berg in Offenbach. He and his accomplices were able to steal over 220,000 euros. An uninvolved man who was in neighboring offices sustained injuries during the explosion. The material damage to the affected bank branch amounted to around 360,000 euros, which underlines the seriousness of the crime. A few months later, on January 21, 2025, he continued his criminal activities. In a shopping center in Vienna, he managed to blow up another ATM and stole more than 89,000 euros. The material damage in this case exceeded all dimensions at 1.48 million euros.
On the run and arrested
The suspect was not a blank slate as there was already a European arrest warrant against him. He was convicted on January 22, 2025, when he was arrested on the A3 motorway. A civilian patrol discovered him at a rest stop near Erlangen in Bavaria. What is interesting is that when he was arrested, investigators found around 8,800 euros in cash in his belt bag, which further supports his criminal activities. The 36-year-old had already served a five-year prison sentence for a similar offense in Willich-Schiefbahn in 2017.
The damage and the social impact
The incidents in Offenbach and Vienna not only shed a bright light on the growing crime in Europe. They also reflect the concerns of citizens who feel increasingly insecure that they too could become victims of such attacks. Despite the high level of property damage caused by criminal activity, it remains to be hoped that law enforcement will soon find a solution to put a stop to this trend. After all, such ATMs could soon have to be under increased protection to ensure the safety of users.
The entire story shows how important it is to be informed about these developments. Crime in this form has an impact on society as a whole and highlights the need for all of us to be vigilant. It remains to be hoped that the accused man will be held accountable for his actions and that another signal will be sent against attacks using explosives, as the [Tagesschau](https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/regional/hessen/hr-anklage-gegen-mutmasslichen-geldautomaten Sprenger-vom-bieberer-berg-100.html) reports.