Five arrested in fatal shooting at popular Amsterdam swim spot

Five people were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the death of Bas van Wijk, a 24-year-old man shot dead at a popular swimming location in Amsterdam. The Badhoevedorp man was gunned down on Saturday afternoon in Oeverlanden Park after confronting someone trying to steal his friend’s watch.

Tactical teams captured two Amsterdam men, aged 20 and 26, at a location in Zandvoort, police said. Investigators also picked up three other Amsterdam men at various locations. Their ages were listed as 18, 19 and 20.

All five were transferred to an undisclosed police station where they were placed in restricted custody. The suspects were not being allowed to communicate with anyone except their attorneys.

Shortly after the shooting, police said they were searching for a thin white male who appeared to be in his twenties or thirties. He had curly black hair, a goatee, blue swim trunks, a hat and sunglasses.

Authorities had also asked the public to see their camera images from that area around the time of the shooting, no matter how insignificant. Police reiterated their call for any helpful information on Wednesday night.

Earlier, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said catching those responsible for the murder was of the “highest priority.” She stated, “Everything indicates that he is an innocent victim who paid the highest price for his courage.”