Netherlands reduces sentences of mosque attack convicts

By Abdullah Asiran

ENSCHEDE, Netherlands (AA) - A court in eastern Netherlands on Tuesday reduced the sentences of four convicts who were involved in a Molotov cocktail attack on a mosque in Enschede in 2016.

Five convicts had been sentenced to four years in prison for arson with "terrorist purpose" in 2016, according to the Court of Appeals of Arnhem-Leeuwarden's statement.

The court has now reduced the sentences of two convicts to 36 months and two others to 30 months in prison; the fifth convict had not appealed against his sentence.

It added the sentences were reduced since the court deemed that the act of throwing Molotov cocktails did not endanger people inside and outside the mosque.

The court also said the convicts wanted to frighten people.