In western Germany, there has been a surge in criminal activity associated with a series of explosions, arsons and gunfights. In the past few weeks, there have already been 11 explosions, which has caused serious concern among local law enforcement agencies.
Investigators assume that the so-called "wet mafia" from the Netherlands may be behind a series of explosions, arson and shootings in western Germany, Deutsche Welle notes. As stated on Thursday, September 19, the head of the criminal investigation in Cologne, Michael Esser, the connections with organized crime from the Netherlands are "obvious" and can be proven. The investigation "is in full swing", although it is still too early to talk about success, Esser said.
Although several people were detained as part of the investigation, the head of the criminal investigation did not give details of the case in a conversation with journalists, citing the confidentiality of the suspects as well as the victims. According to Michael Esser, the victims of the attacks "are not interested" in "openly laying the cards on the table". "Obviously, there are unpaid bills around that are currently being charged," he said.
On September 16 and 18, explosions rang out in the center of Cologne, in addition, a hand grenade was found under a burning car. In the last 12 weeks, there have already been 11 explosions in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where Cologne is located. In Solingen, an alleged criminal died, probably due to improper handling of an explosive device, and an explosion occurred in Duisburg. It is assumed that all these crimes are related.
All these crimes are believed to have been committed by the so-called Moroccan mafia, a term used in the Dutch and German media to describe several mafia groups that originally emerged from the Dutch Moroccan community in the 1990s. They are much more violent than organized crime groups in Germany. Investigators believe that "mafia wars" have begun between Dutch and German criminal groups in recent weeks.
German police have warned of organized crime entering the country from the Netherlands, after the Mocromafia was found to be involved in a kidnapping and torture case in Cologne. In early August, a man and woman who were apparently part of a German organized crime group were released in a police operation in Cologne.
