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A helicopter arrived at the courthouse around 7:35 am and flew a number of laps above the building where many camera crews have now gathered.
The helicopters are from the Special Interventions Service (DSI) of the National Police Unit.
A helicopter arrives at the Extra Security Facility (EBI) prior to the first preliminary session in the Marengo trial.
Ⓒ ANP
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A Range Rover left Vught before 6 a.m. In the vicinity of the court bunker in Amsterdam, where the major criminal trial starts on Monday morning, police cars visibly lined up a little later. The first transport arrived at the court bunker before 07.00 am and the second transport arrived at 07.15 am under the bellowing of sirens.
The ‘sampling process’ will start on Monday after three years of preparation. Seventeen suspects are transported to the heavily guarded court bunker in Amsterdam-Osdorp. The main suspect in this mega murder case is Ridouan Taghi. After his arrest in Dubai and transfer to the Netherlands in December 2019, Taghi (43) has not yet appeared at interim hearings in the trial. He is expected to appear in court on Monday.
At 7.15 am the second transport arrived under the bellowing of sirens.
Ⓒ Michel van Bergen
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More secure than ever
The court bunker in Amsterdam is more heavily secured than ever on the first day of the sampling process. Police cars are on the parking deck on the roof of the nearby MediaMarkt, which is exceptional. A drone is circling in the air and heavily armed members of the Special Support Team (BOT) are on the street.
There is more police around the building than usual. The Mobile Unit (ME) is also present. A police helicopter has been circling above the court bunker for some time. The streets to the extra secure court are fenced off on both sides.
17 suspects
Seventeen suspects are on trial in Marengo. Almost all are expected on Monday in the heavily guarded court bunker in Amsterdam-Osdorp. Only Saïd R., one of the main suspects in the liquidation process, is probably still in Colombia. He has been waiting for his extradition to the Netherlands since his arrest in February last year.
The suspects arrive in armored vehicles that arrive at the court with sirens. Judges and public prosecutors will also be taken to court by special transport, where the criminal trial will begin at 10 a.m.
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Lunch Update
An update of the most important news every day during lunch.
