A court in Arnhem has released two young men from custody pending their trial for plotting terrorist offences in Syria.

The two, aged 26 and 21, were arrested in Germany in August. They were thought to have been on their way to Syria to fight in the civil war which, the public prosecutor says, means they were preparing to take part in terrorist attacks.

The two have been allowed out of jail pending their trial but must wear an ankle tracking device. They have been ordered to remain the Netherlands and stay away from airports.

Arrests

Over 100 Dutch nationals have travelled to Syria to join the fighting since the war broke out nearly three years ago. Several have been killed.

At the end of January, the Dutch counter-terrorism chief confirmed the passports of eight people planning to travel to Syria to fight against president Assad had been confiscated.

MPs asked justice minister Ivo Opstelten in March 2013 to investigate whether the passports of young Dutch nationals who plan to fight with rebel forces in Syria can be seized.

Earlier in January, a man aged 20 and a 17-year-old girl from The Hague were arrested on suspicion of helping a 15-year-old girl travel to Syria.