Police want to take assassination targets off the street

The police need to be able to temporarily accommodate possible targets of gang assassinations somewhere safe, similar to what is currently done with mentally disturbed people. This is according to Hanneke Ekelmans, Head of Operations at the Amsterdam police, in the Telegraaf on Monday. According to her, the police regularly receive indications of impending assassinations, but the victims often do not want to cooperate. Being able to forcibly remove them from the streets would stop that. "The police not only have the task to prevent anyone from being killed, but also above all to create a safe environment", Ekelmans told the Telegraaf. With the assassination of Lucas Boom next to two schools, we again saw the dangers bystanders are in." Assassinations in Amsterdam also have bullets hitting cars, trams and buildings. "It is very frustrating that we can do so little."