Mr Volkert van der Graaf, the lone suspect in the killing of Dutch maverick politician Mr Pim Fortuyn, has confessed to the crime, the prosecution said today.
"Volkert van der Graaf, confessed that he intentionally shot Fortuyn and had made the plan to do so some time in advance," the Amsterdam office of the prosecution said in a statement.
The assassination of the outspoken and flamboyant Mr Fortuyn, just days before a general election in May, sparked an outpouring of anger and grief in the Netherlands.
Mr Van der Graaf felt that the populist politician was a menace to society and killing him was the only way to stop him, according to the prosecution statement.
"Van der Graaf said that he felt Fortuyn was an ever growing danger to vulnerable groups in society."
"He was concerned about Fortyun's prejudiced political views and the incendiary way (he) presented them and the substantial political power (he) seemed to be gaining," the statement said of his motive.
Mr Fortuyn's brother Marten said today he was not surprised by the confession but annoyed that Mr Van der Graaf seemed to be presenting himself as "the saviour of the nation".
The defendant, charged with premeditated murder, also said he committed the crime alone and that nobody else was involved in the planning and execution of it.
AFP