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Bomb attack shatters windows in Amsterdam courthouse

A mortar bomb has rocked a court building in Amsterdam, smashing windows on seven floors and sparking a massive police investigation.

The projectile flew into the third floor of the complex on Parnassusweg, Amsterdam-Zuid, and exploded at 3am this morning, according to Het Parool.

Ivo Opstelten, minister for security and justice, said the explosion was “an attack on the justice system” and pledged to “pull out all the stops” to track down the culprits.

Police said there were no casualties and no indication of who carried out the attack. A witness told local TV station AT5 that they saw two people fleeing the scene on a moped.

Court spokeswoman Polly van Rijn said security staff who were in the building described a “huge explosion” and there was extensive glass damage within.

Police said they were still unsure exactly what kind of device was used.

Tower E of the building, where the bomb exploded, is mainly concerned with administrative and cantonal cases, towards the lower end of the judicial system, and also houses a section of the public prosecutor’s office (Openbare Ministerie).

It was also the scene of the trial of PVV leader Geert Wilders on charges of spreading hatred against Muslims. Wilders was acquitted in June this year.

The entrance to the building and a section of the access road have been cordoned off as police gather evidence from the scene, but despite the profusion of broken glass most staff are expected to work as normal.

Source: Het Parool: Explosie beschadigt rechtbank Amsterdam

Photo by Branko Collin/ 24oranges.nl