Suspect in Amsterdam King’s Day viral video rape ID’d as Italian resident, 27
The suspect Amsterdam police arrested in connection with an allegation of rape that took place in public on King’s Day was identified as a 27-year-old man with Italian citizenship. He was arrested on Tuesday, and he currently lives in the capital, a spokesperson for the Public Prosecution Service told ANP.
A video of the incident, which happened on the street in the city center, went viral as King’s Day celebrations came to a close. The video showed a man with his pants around his ankles laying on top of a woman between parked cars on the busy Keizersgracht. Frames of video suggested it was filmed near the Utrechtsestraat.
It was reported a few days after the video went shared across a variety of platforms that it was being investigated as a possible case of sexual assault. Police said the woman in the video pressed charges saying that the sexual contact happened without her consent.
The police also said that the suspect and victim knew each other before the alleged assault took place, implying it was not a random act. A second video obtained by Parool and other media outlets reportedly showed women kicking the man off the victim, and telling bystanders to call the police.
The suspect was expected to be brought before an examining magistrate on Friday afternoon, who can order the man to remain in jail for 14 days while the investigation continues.
The police also stated that anyone who is still in possession of the video should delete it, and should not share it further. Investigators said it can not only be traumatizing for the victim, but it is also criminally punishable.
“Making and distributing these kinds of images is not only punishable, but also deeply humiliating and hurtful. No one should be photographed or filmed naked or during sex without explicit permission,” said Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema on Monday.
