Amsterdam community center to place memorial stone for murdered intern
The municipality of Amsterdam will place a memorial stone at the Wittenburg community center to commemorate Mohammed Bouchikhi. The 17-year-old boy was gunned down at the community center, where he worked as an intern, in January last year, AT5 reports.
On January 26th last year two balaclava wearing men entered the community center and opened fire with automatic rifles. There were around 20 young people in the center at the time. Mohammed was killed. Two others, then 19-year-old Gianni L. and a young womzn, were injured. The police later determined that Mohammed was not the target of the attack, but an innocent bystander.
The belief is that Gianni L. was the actual target of the shooting. The young man has a criminal record, and was also a victim in a shooting in the same area in November 2017. A 19-year-old Amsterdam resident was killed in that shooting, and three others were injured.
Mohammed's murder made a deep impression on the neighborhood. A silent march was organized for him, and the police placed extra security in the area.
On January 26th, the first anniversary of Mohammed's death, the municipality is organizing a commemoration service in the Oosterkerk. Mohammed's family and others involved are invited to attend. Mayor Femke Halsema will also be there. After the commemoration, the memorial stone will be unveiled in the facade of the community center. According to the municipality, the stone will be "a permanent reminder of the death of the innocent intern Mohammed Bouchikhi".
