The security measures surrounding the Marengo criminal trial, which will start substantively on Monday, are the largest ever. When asked, a team leader of the Special Support Team (BOT) informs NU.nl about this. The BOT is responsible for transporting the suspects to the secured court in Amsterdam and back again.
The Marengo Process
- The first pre-trial session took place three years ago.
- Seventeen people are suspected of various murders.
- The main suspect is Ridouan T, who was arrested in Dubai.
- The session will take place in the ‘Bunker’ in Osdorp.
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Exactly what measures have been taken is secret, but the highest threat level applies to a few suspects. Team chief Alex does not want to go further than that “appropriate measures have been taken.”
The court wants all suspects to be present at the start of the trial. This means that sixteen suspects will be transported to the extra-secure De Bunker court in Amsterdam. Among them is also Ridouan T., who then appears in court for the first time.
During previous sessions in the Marengo trial, special units of the police, the Special Interventions Service (DSI) and the Royal and Diplomatic Security Service (DKDB) were already deployed to, for example, supply the members of the court. Streets were also blocked and a helicopter hung above the court. There is little doubt that this will continue to be the case today.
Police deployment during a previous session in the Marengo trial.
Police deployment during a previous session in the Marengo trial. Photo: ANP
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Security will be visible and invisible
The BOT is deployed if the person transporting the team is in danger of being liquidated or held hostage, or if there is a risk of flight. Armored vehicles are used for transport, of which at least the Range Rover can withstand an explosion.
Alex, who does not want to disclose his real name and age for security reasons, says the team will be “visible and invisible” at the court. In addition to physical presence, this can also be with, for example, drones, camera systems and “other means”.
The security operation will be managed from a central point somewhere in the Netherlands. The managers of the various security units will meet there.
Long-time fear of attempting to free T.
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 T. After his arrest in Dubai and transfer to the Netherlands in December 2019, T. (43) has not yet appeared at interim hearings in the trial. He is expected to appear in court on Monday.
It has long been feared that an attempt is made to free T. At the end of last year, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) left know that earlier that year information had been received by the Criminal Intelligence Team (TCI) that an attempt was being made to free T. from the Extra Secure Institution (EBI) in Vught. Extra security measures were then deployed around the already high-security prison.
‘T. has people and resources to influence the process’
The OM brought this information to the fore when T. asked to be transferred to a less strict regime than the EBI. The information about an imminent escape was judged not to be concrete enough, but T. had to remain in the EBI.
At the time, the Public Prosecution also expressed the suspicion that T. had “sufficient people, opportunities and resources to influence the criminal proceedings”. It is possible that T. will be shielded from the others in court on Monday.
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