Terrorism alleged in Pride Amsterdam arson; Suspect praised ISIS, received mystery cash

Anes A., the 27-year-old man suspected of setting two fires at Pride Amsterdam last year, wrote posts online praising the terrorist organization Islamic State (ISIS) and received €750 shortly before the arson, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) said in a hearing against him on Tuesday. The OM suspects the man of acting with terrorist intent, the Telegraaf reported.

The man confessed to setting a fire on a busy train from Utrecht to Amsterdam and later in a special Pride changing room at Amsterdam Central Station on August 2, 2025 - the day of last year’s Canal Parade. He was carrying a water bottle of gasoline with him, which he had obtained the previous evening.

The man was arrested in June of this year and has been in custody since.

The OM suspects the man of acting with terrorist intent. Before and after the arson, he wrote ISIS-glorifying posts on his Instagram account, the OM said. He also received a transfer of €750 in his bank account with the reference “gift.” According to the OM, the man set the fires knowing that he could injure people and instill fear in the LGBTQIA+ community.

The investigation into the man’s bank account is still ongoing, and he still has to undergo a psychiatric assessment. The OM argued for the man to remain in custody.

A.’s lawyer argued for her client’s release. She argued that the arson was not an act of terrorism, but one of desperation. A. was not doing well at the time. He had lost his job and housing and was using drugs. Before his arrest in June, he was getting his life back on track, the lawyer said. He had stopped using drugs, found a job, and re-established contact with his family.

The court ruled in favor of the OM. The posts about ISIS, the purchase of the gasoline, and the money in his account point to a premeditated plan. The court remanded A. into custody until his next hearing, scheduled for January 8.