A 32-year-old man and 24-year-old woman from The Hague have been arrested for trying to recruit people to fight in Syria and Iraq, police said on Thursday.

The couple are also suspected of spreading hatred via social media and news websites, police said. A third suspect has also been arrested on the second charge.

Two of the suspects were arrested in Germany on Thursday morning. The third was picked up in The Hague on Wednesday. Four homes have also been searched in connection with the investigation.

According to news agency ANP, the two men are also wanted in connection with preparing terrorist attacks, but it is not clear if the targets were in the Netherlands or abroad.

In total, police in The Hague have now arrested nine people for recruiting Jihadi and five remain in jail.

The Hague’s mayor is due to give a news conference about the arrests and the investigation later on Thursday.

According to the AD, the 24-year-old man is a Muslim convert named Rudolph H who has a conviction for shaking a baby to death.

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