Another eight Dutch citizens have been apprehended in connection with a series of explosive assaults on ATMs in Germany, marking a total of over 100 arrests in the past two years.

This group, consisting of seven men and one woman, hails from various areas in Noord and Zuid Holland. Their apprehension followed extensive police raids on 22 residences and commercial properties conducted by Dutch and German authorities on Wednesday.

The operations resulted in the seizure of a substantial sum of money, luxury items, and jewelry. Additionally, explosives were discovered at an Amstelveen address, leading to the evacuation of five homes for safety precautions.

German authorities have formally requested the extradition of all eight individuals to Germany for trial.

In 2022, 60 Dutch nationals were detained for their involvement in detonating cash machines in Germany, and this year's count has reached at least 61, with nearly half originating from Utrecht.

Dutch criminals have targeted the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, utilizing stolen vehicles to carry out the attacks, detonate explosives, and abscond with the cash.

Reportedly, these gangs have stolen approximately €5.2 million through ATM explosions in the two German provinces, as confirmed by law enforcement earlier.

Although Dutch groups are suspected of nearly 450 ATM attacks in Germany last year, the Netherlands experienced only 15 detonations due to preventive measures, as disclosed by Dutch authorities in February.

Incidents involving ATM raids in the Netherlands have prompted banks to relocate cash dispensers to less populated areas and even eliminate some machines altogether due to the threat these explosions pose to local communities. Photo by Kritzolina, Wikimedia commons.