Dutch man wounded as gunmen open fire on taxi in central Düsseldorf

The passenger in a taxi that came under fire on Tuesday in central Düsseldorf has been confirmed to be Dutch, according to the public prosecutor in the German city, speaking to news agency dpa. The regional newspaper Rheinische Post reported that it appears to have been a targeted attack. After roughly ten shots were fired at the taxi, the suspect or suspects escaped.

Authorities have not disclosed the Dutch man’s condition, but the Rheinische Post reports he was seriously injured and underwent surgery Tuesday evening. The taxi driver and two other passengers were unharmed. The Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) said that one passenger fled the taxi and allegedly returned fire. The identity of the third passenger remains unknown.

The OM said the 40-year-old victim is the nephew of a Kurdish-Dutch drug lord. The head of that syndicate is reportedly serving a 20-year prison sentence. The operation is reportedly now being handled by relatives, but it remains uncertain whether the victim or any of the other people in the vehicle played a role.

The Rheinische Post reports that an online post about the victim, which has since been taken down, claimed he had protested that same day at the Dutch consulate in Düsseldorf to demand his uncle’s release. The message on X is also said to have contained a threat of revenge.

German media say the victim frequently presented himself on social media as a gangster enjoying an extravagant lifestyle, and that the platforms also confirmed he had been the target of an attack.