The suspects are aged between 25 and 41 and are Dutch, Moroccan, Afghan, Turkish and Romanian nationals resident in the Netherlands or Belgium, authorities said. German prosecutors are seeking their extradition. Investigators are still looking for another three suspected accomplices.
IN EUROPE 'A NEW GENERATION OF BANK ROBBERS' TARGET ATMS WITH EXPLOSIVES, STEALING MILLIONS
A destroyed cash machine stands in a branch of the Hannoversche Volksbank. German authorities arrested nine suspects in connection with ATM explosions across the country. (Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images)
The 52 explosions at cash machines in Germany, all but one of them in the two southern states, started in November 2021 and continued until Jan. 19. They took place mostly deep in the night.
The perpetrators caused damage estimated at more than 6.7 million euros, more than the total value of the cash they stole by blowing up the machines that contained it.