A man from Rotterdam has been jailed for four years for plotting a terrorist attack.

Jaouad A. was arrested last December following a tip-off by the intelligence service AIVD. A search of his home uncovered an automatic weapon with specially adapted anti-tank bullets, along with 9kg of illegal fireworks in his son’s bedroom.

Intelligence agents raised the alarm after intercepting a conversation between A. and two other people in which they discussed potential targets.

Although no specific target was identified, in the tapped conversations A. dismissed a suggestion to attack the Turkish embassy because fellow Muslims might be affected. ‘I’d prefer to go after the Dutch,’ he said.

Prosecutors service the fireworks in A.’s home contained enough explosives for a substantial bomb.

Sentencing A., the judges said: ‘On the basis of the combined facts the court concludes that the suspect was planning to commit an attack. Had that happened the number of victims would have been considerable.’