Clues in Rotterdam murder point to Amsterdam, Diemen

In the investigation into the murder of Ergin Başakçi in Rotterdam last year, the police are turning to Amsterdam, Delft and Diemen. More and more clues are pointing towards these cities. The Public Prosecutor offered a reward of 20 thousand euros for information that leads to the solving of this case, the police said in a statement.

Başakçi, a 42-year-old father of two teenage daughters from Hellevoetsluis, was gunned down while sitting on the terrace of XO Food & Lounge on Prince Hendrikkade in Rotterdam on August 28th, 2017. The perpetrators used a white Volkswagen Polo with a black sunroof during the assassination, and a gray Kia Rio as a getaway car. Both these cars were in Amsterdam, Delft and Diemen on the night of the murder. Analysis of PGP encrypted cellphones believed to be used by the perpetrators also point toward these locations.

The police are therefore turning their attentions to Amsterdam, Delft and Diemen in the investigation into this assassination. Posters and signs were placed on the streets where the cars were seen, and the police are handing out flyers to passersby and local residents. These are Borneolaan and Baron G.A. Tindaplein in Amsterdam, Karwijzaaderf and Griend in Diemen, Afrikaanderplein and Martinus Steijnstraat in Rotterdam, and Industriestraat in Delft.

The Volkswagen Polo used in the assassination was found burning shortly after the shooting, a few hundred meters away from the crime scene. The Kia Rio was set on fire on Griend in Diemen during the early hours of September 4th. Using the travel movements of the Kia in combination with surveillance camera footage, the police determined that the Kia and the Polo were together earlier on the night of the murder, possibly also with a blue Volkswagen. Analysis of the PGPs show the same route as the cars.

The police would like to talk to anyone who noticed these cars, either together or alone, between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Monday, August 28th.