Amsterdam cops release video of person of interest in New Year's murder of Syrian teens
Police officers in Amsterdam released video footage on Thursday related to their investigation into the murder of two Syrian teenagers on New Year's Day. The boys, aged 16 and 18, were shot dead in the Piet Wiedijkpark on the outskirts of the capital. The video shows a person of interest who may have witnessed the incident, though police did not say if it concerns a third teenager who may have narrowly escaped being shot that day.
The two victims were residing in a shelter for minor-aged asylum seekers in Amsterdam. Police detained a 25-year-old Amsterdam man on January 20, suspected of involvement in the deadly shooting. The arrest was publicly announced a few days afterward.
Initially, there were suspicions that the murders were linked to a clash between youth groups. Police indicated in February 2026 that the two teens might have been shot at random.
Investigators shared footage on Instagram this week showing a person dressed in a light-colored top and white shoes. Authorities said on Thursday that the individual captured on video was walking from Theo Bouwmeesterhof into Piet Wiedijkpark at around the time the fatal gunshots were fired. Authorities are urging the witness, or anyone who can identify the individual, to contact them.
A day after the arrest, investigators initiated a focused campaign at Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) sites on January 21. To reach the so-called “closed” community more effectively, the posters were printed in Dutch, English, and Arabic.
The campaign made it clear that cooperating with detectives would not impact witnesses’ asylum cases, aiming to reduce the fear of the authorities.
