Man placed on wanted list for attempted killings of Spanish politician, Iranian activist
The Dutch authorities have placed Sami Bekal Bounouare on the National Wanted List. The Moroccan-Spanish man is wanted for involvement in the attempted assassinations of a Spanish politician in Madrid and an Iranian activist in Haarlem. He is also wanted for a murder in Capelle aan den Ijssel in 2021 The authorities offered a €50,000 reward for information that leads to his arrest.
Bounouare is suspected of directing an attempt to assassinate an Iranian activist and publicist in Haarlem during the early hours of June 6 this year.
Internationally, Bounouare is wanted for involvement in an attempt to assassinate Spanish politician Alejo Vidal-Quadras in Madrid in November 2023. The far-right politician was shot in the face by a suspected hitman and barely survived the attack.
The Dutch police have arrested two suspects for involvement in the attack on Vidal-Quadras, a 27-year-old woman from Den Bosch and a 38-year-old man from Tunisia. Both are also suspected of involvement in the attempted assassination of the Iranian activist in Haarlem in June. A 27-year-old Colombian is also in custody for the Haarlem attack.
Bounouare is also suspected of involvement in the assassination of 37-year-old Wisam Al-Albassi in Capelle aan Den IJssel in 2021. The man was shot dead while walking his dog.
The Dutch authorities offered a 50,000 euro reward for information that leads to Bounouare’s arrest. The man has lived in the Netherlands since 2010, mainly in Rotterdam, but also spending time in Schiedam and ‘s Hertogenbosch. His current whereabouts is unknown.
