Fifteen predominately Dutch men have been jailed for up to five years in Germany for blowing up ATMs.

The gang, based in the Netherlands, blew up some 30 cash machines in Germany between November 2021 and their arrests last year. In total, they are said to have stolen €3 million and caused damage put at €5.5 million.

The court ruled that 11 of the gang, aged 23 to 43, had been involved in the explosions and four were complicit. The verdict against a 16th man will be announced later.

In total, 137 Dutch nationals were arrested last year in connection with blowing up ATMs. In total they are suspected of causing 367 explosions at cash points, all but eight of which were in Germany.

The gangs are thought to have moved into Germany because of measures taken in the Netherlands to better protect ATMs. In some cases, for example, bank notes are automatically glued together in a blast.