# 19 victims and relatives speak at Tarwekamp explosion trial

> On the third day of the trial in The Hague, 19 victims and bereaved relatives spoke in court about the explosion that killed six people in December 2024.

Society · published 2026-11-10 15:12 · https://nlnow.nl/a/bereaved-ask-for-life-sentences-at-tarwekamp-explosion-trial/

Nineteen victims and bereaved relatives gave statements in the district court in The Hague on Tuesday, the third hearing day of the Tarwekamp trial. The explosion on the Tarwekamp on 7 December 2024 killed six people. Four suspects are on trial: Moshtag B., Mourad B. (Ben T.), Ilias B. and Adil A.

Moshtag B. is suspected of instigating the attack. He is said to have wanted revenge on his ex-partner, who ran a bridal shop on the Tarwekamp.

The first to speak was the widow of Vikel (44), a Greek engineer who died in the blast. Her family was still in Greece at the time; their youngest child was seven months old. She asked the court to give the suspects life sentences. “I am not asking for revenge. I am asking for justice,” she said.

Vikel’s brother asked the court to make sure the suspects never go free again. Only a life sentence, he said, would bring peace and justice back to the city.

Speaking directly to the suspects, Tim’s mother asked whether they can imagine what it means to lose someone you love so much in this way. “My son had absolutely nothing to do with you,” she said. He was sleeping at his girlfriend’s home on the Tarwekamp.

At the start of the day, the presiding judge told those present that the court expected difficult and emotional days, and said it understood that.

Another 15 statements will follow on Wednesday. The judge questioned the suspects on the first hearing day last week. The trial has nine hearing days in total.

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