German police arrest suspect tied to fatal shooting at crowded Dutch cafe in May
On Thursday, Dutch authorities arrested a 47-year-old man from Bergheim, Germany, in connection with the fatal shooting of 41-year-old Cemil Önal on May 1, 2025, at a crowded hotel terrace on Van Vredenburchweg in Rijswijk, police report. Önal, a Turkish national and alleged crime figure, was shot at close range and died immediately in broad daylight.
The suspect, reportedly former Turkish prosecutor Bayram B., was at the same terrace table as Önal during the shooting and reportedly dropped to the ground, later claiming he had narrowly escaped death. The attack, occurring around 5:45 p.m., was captured on hotel security cameras.
Police released a photo describing the suspect as approximately 1.80 meters tall, with an average to sturdy build, a beard, and wearing black clothing, including pants “highly likely” from Adidas. Eyewitnesses said the shooter appeared calm and deliberate and made little effort to disguise his identity.
Witnesses included two people sitting on a nearby bench, who police say may have crucial information. The hotel was temporarily closed, and guests were evacuated. One guest told Omroep West at the time, “We were supposed to stay here for four nights. I’m really shocked by this.”
Önal had reportedly masterminded the 2022 murder of Turkish Cypriot businessman and gambling magnate Halil Falyali and was linked to multiple criminal activities, including money laundering.
Sources described him as a high-profile figure in organized crime circles. He had recently been released from Dutch custody and was awaiting a decision on possible extradition to Turkey, where he faced charges in connection with the Falyali killing.
Authorities say Önal had warned Dutch police about threats to his life and had filed a formal report expressing concern over possible retaliation linked to his ties to the Gülen movement, a group labeled a terrorist organization by the Turkish government. His attorney said Önal feared for his life because he had sheltered a political refugee associated with the movement.
Dutch authorities immediately launched a large-scale investigation under a Major Crime Investigation Team (Team Grootschalige Opsporing, TGO) led by a public prosecutor.
