dna matchEleven years after a violent series of fires in Veendam in which a firefighter also died, the police have arrested a suspect. It concerns a 43-year-old man from Apeldoorn who lived in Veendam at the time.
The police suspect that the man set fire to a shop in the center of the city in 2010. During the extinguishing, a facade collapsed. Two firefighters were buried under the rubble, including 44-year-old Wiebe de Vries. He died on the spot from his injuries. His colleague was injured.
The fire was one of many in Veendam at that time. Residents were terrified for weeks and wondered when the perpetrator would strike again. For years, the police were unable to solve the case, but thanks to a DNA match, there is now a breakthrough.
In 2010, police recovered traces of the suspected instigators of two fires. The now arrested suspect lived in Veendam at the time and had to give his DNA in connection with the conviction in another case. That DNA resulted in a match with the traces that had been secured after the fires.
Following the match, the police again conducted an extensive investigation into the fires and again witnesses were heard. It emerged from the investigation and from the witness statements that several people were presumably involved in the arson attacks.
The 43-year-old man was arrested on Monday on suspicion of involvement in both fires. Investigators strongly suspect that those involved were working in the catering industry in Veendam in 2010.
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