Gunman who critically wounded Dutch-Iranian police staffer fled in Toyota Yaris
Dutch authorities are urgently searching for a dark Toyota Yaris suspected in Thursday’s shooting of a 36-year-old police IT worker in Schoonhoven. The car, a five-door model manufactured after 2020 with tinted rear windows, distinctive rims, a spoiler, and a Dutch license plate, fled the scene toward Lopik shortly after the attack, police said.
The victim was shot outside his home just before 7:00 a.m. and remains seriously injured in a hospital. Neighbors described him as a friendly man with a young family. Mayor Hans Beenakker of Krimpenerwaard said residents are shocked but generally feel safe.
Justice Minister David van Weel noted there is no concrete evidence linking the shooting to the victim’s Iranian background but said his outspoken criticism of Iran’s regime is being taken seriously. The officer, who has more than 40,000 followers on social media, posted regularly about political change in Iran and shared content from Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former shah.
Police Chief Janny Knol and Politiedienstencentrum Director Paul van Musscher described the attack as “a major blow” to the officer’s colleagues and the wider police force. The motive remains under investigation.
The Major Investigation Team handling the case is asking anyone with surveillance footage from the wider Pascalplein area between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Thursday to come forward. Tips can be shared confidentially with the Team Nationale Inlichtingen.
In a separate incident Friday, police in Utrecht fired warning shots to capture a suspect who had tried to escape. Authorities are treating the two manhunts separately while maintaining heightened vigilance.
