Bulgarian court orders extradition of Dutch citizen facing terrorism charges
A three-member panel of the District Court in the Bulgarian town of Haskovo ordered on January 3 the extradition to the Netherlands of a Dutch citizen facing terrorism charges in connection with allegedly trying to join the Daesh “Islamic State” terrorist group.
Lykke Helena Petronella Soontjens (33) was arrested on December 21 at Bulgaria’s Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint at the Turkish border, on the basis of a European Arrest Warrant issued by prosecutors in the Dutch city of Eindhoven.
She was handed over to Bulgaria by Turkish officials who intercepted her as she attempted to make her way to Syria.
Dutch prosecutors allege that notes found in Soontjens’s apartment indicated her intention to join the terrorist group. Soontjens denies the terrorism charges.
Soontjens, who has agreed to the extradition, made no statement in the Haskovo court on January 3.
(Photo: Jason Morrison/sxc.hu)
/Panorama
