Dutch explosives experts say home-made bombs are increasingly being used in attacks on homes and vehicles, rather than the more traditional hand grenade, broadcaster NOS said on Wednesday.

Last year the EOD were called out to deal with home-made explosives 11 times but this year they have had 17 so far. By contrast, hand grenades were used in 14 attacks in 2021 but just four to date in 2022.

There has been an increase in explosions outside homes in recent months. Last week there were blasts at two homes in Den Bosch, and one in Hoef en Haag, near Vianen. Last month, home made explosives were used on an attack on a house in Huizen and an apartment in Barendrecht.

‘Hand grenades have instructions and go through a process of quality control,’ an EOD spokesman told broadcaster NOS. ‘If people make their own explosives, then you have no idea how they are put together.’

Home made bombs are also popular among thieves who attempt to blow up bank cash dispensers.