Van Gogh killing: Chechen released
Dutch authorities have ordered the release of a 22-year-old Chechen man arrested two months ago in connection with the killing of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh.
Prosecutors detained the defendant, identified only as Marad J, on April 19 after finding his fingerprints at the home of Van Gogh’s alleged killer, Mohammed Bouyeri.
“While the suspicion of terrorist activities turned out to be justified, the investigation didn’t provide sufficient evidence,” prosecutors said in a statement. A second Chechen suspect, detained on May 18 in Tours, France, remained in custody.
Both are believed to have ties to a group of Islamic fundamentalists known as the Hofstad network, believed to be behind Van Gogh’s killing on November 2.
Mohammed Bouyeri’s trial is due to start on July 11. More than a dozen other defendants are also awaiting trial on terrorism charges.
