More than 1,000 persons afflicted with smoking-related cancers or addicted to tobacco have joined a brewing class-action suit against as yet unnamed tobacco companies, the website DutchNews.nl said.

Citing an article in the newspaper Financieele Dagblad, the website said lawyer Bénédicte Ficq would file three police complaints on 29 Sept that will form the base for the class-action suit. The reported aim of the suit is to influence the behaviour of the tobacco industry rather than a damage award. Tobacco industry whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand reportedly is advising Ficq.