The National Criminal Investigation Department arrested three men in Rotterdam on Thursday who were planning to participate in violent jihad in Syria. This was reported by the Public Prosecutor's Office on Friday. During the search of their homes, knives, a sword and a crossbow were seized.

The police also found farewell letters, packed backpacks with travel gear and a large amount of jihadist documentation. Two homes of family members of the suspects in Doesburg and Utrecht were also searched. The investigation into the suspects began last month. The men, aged 22, 23 and 33, are believed to be radicalized Muslims.

One of the men got married last week to a Muslim woman he had not met before. He had known her recently from the Internet. The man wanted to fight jihad with his wife in Syria. In a photo for his bride, the man posed with an AK-47 assault rifle. On the Internet, the man spoke to his wife-to-be, "I hope we will die together and go to paradise together."

The suspects were arraigned Friday before the examining magistrate in Rotterdam.