Summary
Dutch police arrested a total of seven suspects on April 14 and 22, 2026 in a coordinated international operation with Germany, France, and Switzerland. The arrested individuals are suspected of attacking ATMs with explosives in Germany and Switzerland. Two additional suspects from the same group had already been arrested in December 2025. The investigation shows that Dutch perpetrator groups have been active in Switzerland since at least 2020 and are responsible for more than half of all explosive attacks on ATMs.
Persons
- Federal Police Office (fedpol) – Swiss authority
- Federal Prosecutor's Office Switzerland – Criminal prosecution
- Police North Rhine-Westphalia – German authority
Topics
- ATM bombings
- International police cooperation
- Organized crime
- Cross-border investigations
Clarus Lead
The dismantling of this perpetrator group marks a turning point in the fight against a growing European crime phenomenon. While ATM bombings were still rare in Switzerland in 2019, the number of attacks rose dramatically – reaching a peak by 2024. However, the success report from 2026 shows results: the number of attacks fell to 24 cases in 2025 (half as many as 2024), and the perpetrators' success rate dropped to around 30 percent. This demonstrates that coordinated international operations and enhanced technical security measures at ATMs can measurably reduce crime.
Detailed Summary
Dutch perpetrator groups have been systematically blowing up ATMs in Europe for approximately 15 years – initially primarily in Germany and Austria. Since 2023, Switzerland has become the focus of these organized gangs. The investigations revealed a structured international network: several Dutch groups operated in coordination and were responsible for more than half of all explosive attacks in Switzerland.
Criminal prosecution was conducted by a joint investigation team (JIT), involving the Federal Prosecutor's Office Switzerland, the Düsseldorf State Prosecutor's Office, and the Amsterdam District Public Prosecutor's Office. Support came from Eurojust and the French State Prosecutor's Office Nancy. During searches, authorities seized explosives, vehicles, and cash. The suspects are accused of approximately ten attacks on ATMs throughout Switzerland. Criminal proceedings are currently being conducted by the Federal Prosecutor's Office; all defendants are presumed innocent.
Key Points
- Nine suspects from Dutch perpetrator groups were arrested between December 2025 and April 2026 in a coordinated international operation.
- Over 15 years of systematic ATM bombings in Europe indicate highly organized criminal structures.
- Measurable success: The number of attacks in Switzerland fell by 50 percent in 2025 compared to 2024; the perpetrators' success rate dropped to 30 percent through enhanced security measures.
Critical Questions
Evidence/Data Quality: Are the charges against the nine suspects based on direct evidence (DNA, video footage, confessions) or on indirect investigation results? How reliable is the attribution of individual attacks to the arrested individuals?
Conflicts of Interest/Independence: To what extent do the success reports (decline in attacks in 2025) influence public perception of the effectiveness of fedpol and the Federal Prosecutor's Office, and could these figures also be explained by other factors (e.g., increased caution by perpetrators)?
Causality/Alternatives: Can the 50 percent decline in attacks in 2025 be unambiguously attributed to the arrest wave, or did technical improvements to ATMs and enhanced bank security play an equally significant role?
Feasibility/Risks: How sustainable is the dismantling of this group? Is there a risk that other Dutch or European perpetrator groups will fill the gap?
Source Validity: The press release does not name specific attack locations – does this make it difficult for media or civil society to independently verify the allegations?
Source Directory
Primary Source: Press Release Federal Police Office and Federal Prosecutor's Office, 24.04.2026
Verification Status: ✓ 24.04.2026
This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 24.04.2026