Police investigate vehicle arson after arrest of 41-year-old Czech suspect
Authorities arrested a 41-year-old Czech man on Saturday for allegedly setting fire to two police vehicles in Amsterdam, including one that burned almost entirely on Friday night.
Second incident in one week
The first reported arson occurred earlier this week on Lodewijk van Deysselstraat in Nieuw-West, where a police van was set on fire overnight between Monday and Tuesday. The second incident happened around 4:30 a.m. Saturday near the Hoofdweg police station in Amsterdam-West, where a parked patrol car caught fire.
In Saturday’s case, a witness reportedly saw the suspect with a shopping cart near the vehicle. According to police, the man retrieved an object containing liquid from the cart and threw it under the car, which then ignited. The suspect fled the scene toward Erasmusgracht.
Emergency responders arrived quickly but were unable to save the patrol car, which sustained severe damage.
Suspect identified and arrested
Police disseminated the suspect’s description throughout the Amsterdam unit, leading to his arrest later in the day. The man, who has no fixed address, is currently in custody.
Authorities also suspect him of involvement in the earlier arson case. Both incidents are under investigation.
Heightened security measures
The recent arson cases come amid heightened tensions in Amsterdam. Following violent clashes related to last week’s Ajax-Maccabi Tel Aviv football match, city officials designated Amsterdam as a safety risk area, enabling preventive searches through Monday afternoon.
Police are still searching for witnesses or surveillance footage related to the arson cases. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact investigators and reference case number 2024274377.
