Skip to main content
Netherlands News in English

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Police guard in a detention center
Police guard in a detention center - Credit: Politie / Politie - License: All Rights Reserved
Crime
gang war
Amsterdam
Utrecht
Reduan Bakkali
DNA
Shurandy S.
police
arrests
horticulture
De Lier
Zuid-Holland
Thursday, 5 April 2018 - 11:00

Share this article:

Zuid-Holland horticulturist linked to gang-land assassinations

One of three suspects arrested for the assassination of Reduan Bakali, the brother of a key witness in the investigations into gang related assassinations in Amsterdam and Utrecht, is the director of a tropical plant nursery in the Zuid-Holland village of De Lier, newspaper AD reports.

Both the police and people who know the 31-year-old horticulturist are surprised by his suspected involvement in these gang-land murders, according to the newspaper. DNA traces in one of the firearms found in the investigation into Bakkali's murder led to the man's arrest.

"Something went wrong somewhere", one of the man's upset relatives said to AD. "DNA traces can float around through a handshake."

According to the horticulturist's family, he helped out when a car crashed into a ditch near his business two weeks ago. The man helped a passenger out of the car while the driver of the car ran away. The police were called and they found and arrested the driver, who resisted arrest quite vehemently, the family member said to the newspaper. Why the driver of the car fled after the accident is unknown. The horticulturist received a bunch of flowers to thank him for his help.

The 31-year-old man from De Lier and a man from Rijswijk were arrested on Saturday. Traces of both their DNA were found on weapons confiscated during the arrest of Shurandy S. on Friday. S. is suspected of being the gunman in Bakkali's murder. The weapons were found in his getaway car.

More like this

Image
Orange crowds in Utrecht during King's Night, 26 April 2026
King's Night celebrations crowded, but mostly festive; Fights in Apeldoorn and Almere
Image
Snow falls on the A4 along the southern edge of Schiphol Airport, near Amsterdam and Badhoevedorp. 15 Feb. 2026
Some 575 flights cancelled, delayed at Schiphol amid snow; 50 more affected tomorrow
Image
Snowfall along the A4 south of Schiphol Airport near Roelofarendsveen, just across the border from Noord-Holland into Zuid-Holland. 15 Feb. 2026
Roads remain treacherous Sunday evening as snow and ice hit Netherlands
Image
A police-involved chase that started near Amstelveen, Noord-Holland, ended in a crash just over the border in Meer, Belgium, 120 kilometers away. 5 Feb. 2026
Wild police chase from Utrecht ends in crash across Belgian border
Make NL Times your top Google source

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Oranje departs for United States as FIFA World Cup countdown begins
  • Men drugging, raping wives & girlfriends on camera is "next level" criminality: Police
  • Video: Suspected tornado whips through village near Enschede, damaging homes
  • European Sleeper drops Amsterdam from Milan night train plan, adds Breda, Eindhoven
  • Online retailer Wehkamp acquired by Dutch fashion group Omoda

Top stories

  • Video: Suspected tornado whips through village near Enschede, damaging homes
  • Dutch companies imported €2 billion worth of dangerous designer drugs from India
  • Rate of birth complications higher in poorer neighborhoods
  • At least 8 Dutch men suspected of drugging, raping, filming their wives, girlfriends
  • Court rules Ye can remain in Netherlands for Arnhem performances this week

© 2012-2026, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Change Privacy Settings
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Partner Content