Police see no criminal offence in student video
Maastricht University is keeping the student suspended for now, while police will not open an investigation based on the video alone.
Police see insufficient grounds in themselves for a criminal investigation into a video made by a student at Maastricht University. The university is temporarily barring the student from classes and exams because of concerns about safety on campus.
In the video, the student from Gaza says he was involved in the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023 in Israel. The footage has since been removed but is still circulating online. It has not been established whether the claim is true.
A police spokesperson tells NOS that, based on the video alone, the student has not committed a criminal offence in the Netherlands. A formal report could, however, provide grounds to assess whether further investigation is necessary.
Maastricht University has temporarily suspended the student. He may not take part in classes or exams. According to the university, the measure is intended to safeguard peace and safety for students and staff and does not constitute an established punishment.
The university says it does not have the authority to investigate whether the claim of participation in the attack is true. Police also say that the video in itself is insufficient to assess the claim under criminal law. As a result, the factual meaning of the footage remains uncertain for now.
The case highlights the difference between an administrative safety measure and a criminal suspicion. A university can intervene temporarily to limit unrest or risks, while a criminal investigation requires more than an unverified statement on social media.
UM has yet to determine whether, and under what conditions, the student can resume his studies. No public information is available about a deadline for that decision. It is also not known whether the university will file a formal report.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The student posted a video, since removed, in which he appears to suggest involvement in the attack of 7 October.
- Maastricht University temporarily suspended him on safety grounds.
- Police say the video alone provides an insufficient basis for a criminal investigation.
Left
Arguments The university must prevent an unproven online claim from leading to the exclusion or collective suspicion of Palestinian students. Safety can be protected temporarily, but resuming education and legal protection must remain central.
Values Equal treatment, legal protection and restraint in the use of institutional power.
Consequences A forceful response without an investigation could damage trust in universities and the position of refugee students.
Centre
Arguments A temporary suspension may be defensible as long as there is demonstrable unrest or a safety risk, but it must be proportionate, time-limited and open to review. Criminal-law conclusions belong to the police and the public prosecution service.
Values Proportionality, safety and careful procedures.
Consequences The university must quickly clarify the conditions for a return and prevent a temporary measure from becoming indefinite.
Right
Arguments A possible indication of involvement in terrorism should be investigated seriously before someone retains access to a campus. From this perspective, safety is more important than reputational damage to the student as long as the facts have not been clarified.
Values Public safety, responsibility and control of admission.
Consequences More screening and cooperation with police and immigration services could increase safety, but could also blur the boundary between education policy and criminal law.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The central claims can be traced directly to NOS and Observant. The text clearly distinguishes between an unverified claim, an administrative suspension and the absence of a criminal investigation.
- confirmed Maastricht University has temporarily suspended the student. — NOS and Observant report the temporary suspension and the ban on attending classes. source
- confirmed Police consider the video alone insufficient for a criminal investigation. — NOS quotes a police spokesperson who says that the video alone provides no grounds for an investigation. source
- confirmed It has not been established whether the student was involved in the attack of 7 October 2023. — The reports state that the university and police have neither established nor investigated this. source
Editor's note
The temporary suspension and the police’s cautious response are certain. The identity of the person in the video, the intention behind his words and whether he was actually involved in the attack remain uncertain.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „maastricht universiteit”
- NU.nl — „maastricht universiteit”
- De Telegraaf — „maastricht universiteit”