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| Murder of lawyer in gangster case shocks the Netherlands | Murder of lawyer in gangster case shocks the Netherlands |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| The murder of a lawyer for a key witness in a major Dutch organised crime trial has sparked outrage and calls for a tougher crackdown on violent underworld gangs. | The murder of a lawyer for a key witness in a major Dutch organised crime trial has sparked outrage and calls for a tougher crackdown on violent underworld gangs. |
| Derk Wiersum, a 44-year-old father of two, was gunned down in the street shortly after leaving his house in Amsterdam. Police are hunting a hoodie-wearing assailant who fled on foot. | Derk Wiersum, a 44-year-old father of two, was gunned down in the street shortly after leaving his house in Amsterdam. Police are hunting a hoodie-wearing assailant who fled on foot. |
| Wiersum was the lawyer for a state witness named Nabil B in a case against two Moroccan-born men dubbed the most wanted criminals in the Netherlands. | Wiersum was the lawyer for a state witness named Nabil B in a case against two Moroccan-born men dubbed the most wanted criminals in the Netherlands. |
| The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, said the killing in broad daylight in the capital was “incredibly disturbing” and that police were “on top” of the situation. | The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, said the killing in broad daylight in the capital was “incredibly disturbing” and that police were “on top” of the situation. |
| “This is very alarming news. The police and the public prosecutor are investigating,” Rutte told reporters. | “This is very alarming news. The police and the public prosecutor are investigating,” Rutte told reporters. |
| The two suspects, Ridouan Taghi and Said Razzouki, are the subject of international arrest warrants for murder and drug trafficking. | The two suspects, Ridouan Taghi and Said Razzouki, are the subject of international arrest warrants for murder and drug trafficking. |
| The lawyer’s murder came a year after Nabil B’s own brother was shot dead, raising questions about why Wiersum was not provided with better security. | The lawyer’s murder came a year after Nabil B’s own brother was shot dead, raising questions about why Wiersum was not provided with better security. |
| The justice and security minister, Ferd Grapperhaus, said he has set up a team of police and prosecutors led by the country’s counter-terrorism coordinator to intensify security around people working in the legal system. | The justice and security minister, Ferd Grapperhaus, said he has set up a team of police and prosecutors led by the country’s counter-terrorism coordinator to intensify security around people working in the legal system. |
| “This is an attack on our constitutional state,” Grapperhaus told reporters in The Hague, adding: “Organised crime has crossed a line.” | “This is an attack on our constitutional state,” Grapperhaus told reporters in The Hague, adding: “Organised crime has crossed a line.” |
| One of Wiersum’s two children was at home at the time of the shooting, De Telegraaf newspaper said. Police covered his body with a white sheet while forensics teams investigated the site. | One of Wiersum’s two children was at home at the time of the shooting, De Telegraaf newspaper said. Police covered his body with a white sheet while forensics teams investigated the site. |
| “This is unprecedented,” Peter de Vries, one of the Netherlands’ best known crime reporters, told BNR news radio. | “This is unprecedented,” Peter de Vries, one of the Netherlands’ best known crime reporters, told BNR news radio. |
| Amsterdam has long been known for its tolerant attitude towards marijuana, but a report commissioned by the city council earlier this month said it now had a major problem with drugs. | Amsterdam has long been known for its tolerant attitude towards marijuana, but a report commissioned by the city council earlier this month said it now had a major problem with drugs. |
| 'We live in a narco-state': murder of Dutch lawyer prompts fear and fury | |
| The report, titled The Other Side of Amsterdam, said that “drug-related organised crime - the ’underworld’ - exerts a significant influence on our city.” | The report, titled The Other Side of Amsterdam, said that “drug-related organised crime - the ’underworld’ - exerts a significant influence on our city.” |
| One of the main Dutch police unions said the shooting showed the situation in the Netherlands was getting out of control. | One of the main Dutch police unions said the shooting showed the situation in the Netherlands was getting out of control. |
| “This is a confirmation that we live in a narco-state”, said Jan Struijs of the NPB police union. “It is an attack on the rule of law.” | “This is a confirmation that we live in a narco-state”, said Jan Struijs of the NPB police union. “It is an attack on the rule of law.” |
| In 2018 the union made a similar warning, saying that the government and politicians underestimated the scale of crime, corruption, threats and money-laundering in the country. | In 2018 the union made a similar warning, saying that the government and politicians underestimated the scale of crime, corruption, threats and money-laundering in the country. |
| Meanwhile, a man died of his wounds after gunmen on a scooter fired shots at his car on Wednesday evening. Police believe it was an unrelated incident. | Meanwhile, a man died of his wounds after gunmen on a scooter fired shots at his car on Wednesday evening. Police believe it was an unrelated incident. |
| Police said they were looking for two suspects wearing black and riding on a black three-wheeler scooter. | Police said they were looking for two suspects wearing black and riding on a black three-wheeler scooter. |
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| Europe | Europe |
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