Six men were arrested early Tuesday morning during a day of action by the Criminal Investigation Department in Eindhoven. The arrests are related to the investigation into the setting off of multiple smoke pots at Philips Stadium during the match against Ajax on Sunday, April 23, 2017.
Police launched an extensive investigation that afternoon after six smoke pots were set off in the stadium and a large part of the stadium filled with black smoke. Dozens of visitors, including children, suffered respiratory problems, stinging eyes and headaches as a result of the smoke. There was also fear and panic. A total of twelve people reported the incident, but the number of supporters with complaints was many times higher.
Arrests
Partly on the basis of clear video images, the police were able to make six arrests Tuesday morning around 7 a.m. They are men aged 25 to 42 from Eindhoven, Nuenen and Waalre. Of that group, a 27-year-old man from Eindhoven is suspected of having played a coordinating role in the action. During the match, a 35-year-old man from Eindhoven was already arrested. The man has since been released, but is still a suspect in the case.
Huge risks
The police and the Public Prosecutor's Office take the case very seriously and point to the enormous risks that were taken by setting off pots in the packed stadium. Panic ensued among some of the supporters in the stands, with all the associated risks. The burning smoke pots automatically set off fire alarms in several places in the stadium. Emergency services then headed en masse to the Philips Stadium, preventing them from being deployed in other places.
Compensating damage
Consequences such as these are being factored into the investigation by the police and prosecutor's office, but financial consequences are also being explicitly considered: "In view of the duped supporters in the case and the extensive financial damage caused, this morning during the searches of the residences, valuable items and money were also seized, in order, among other things, to be able to compensate for the damage suffered," the public prosecutor's office announced.
Analysis of footage
In the investigation, the criminal investigation department spent dozens of hours studying and analyzing camera footage taken at various locations in the stadium. This involved close cooperation with PSV. The importance of good camera footage was once again proven in this investigation. Indeed, it was partly on the basis of this camera footage that the now arrested seven men emerged.
New arrests
However, the images show other persons who may have had a role in the distribution of the smoke pots. The police are therefore taking new arrests into account. Consideration is being given to releasing images of these as yet unknown suspects, which is why the criminal investigation department is calling on those involved to report to the police themselves.
PSV informed
The police worked well with PSV in the investigation. The football club was informed Tuesday morning about the arrests: "It is very nice that the police investigation has led to these arrests. We believe that boundaries were really crossed in April and are pleased that we were able to contribute to the police investigation with our camera footage, among other things," PSV general manager Toon Gerbrands said in a comment. "We are very impressed with the working method of the police." PSV will initiate the procedure surrounding stadium bans after the judicial proceedings.