Dutch man gunned down in Colombia during apparent carjacking
A 32-year-old Dutch car trader, Alessandro Massimo Berkemeijer, was killed in a shooting in northern Colombia on Sunday. Local authorities and media report that he is believed to have been drawn into an ambush, the AD reports.
Originally from Willemstad, Berkemeijer had been living and working in the Colombian port city of Barranquilla, where he operated as a self-employed car trader.
Berkemeijer drove from Barranquilla to Valledupar, a trip of roughly six hours, to complete a car sale. In the Las Casitas area on the outskirts of Valledupar, he was confronted by armed men. According to local media, he is believed to have been lured there under the guise of a legitimate vehicle transaction.
The attackers opened fire, striking him several times across his body. He was rushed to a nearby hospital with serious gunshot wounds, but later succumbed to his injuries.
No arrests have been made to date. Authorities are examining whether the killing was linked to his trade activities or whether it was a robbery that escalated into violence. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has been informed of the incident and is offering consular support to the victim’s relatives.
Local police commander Colonel Germán Gómez says that the police are currently sharing few details. “These are matters that are kept confidential so as not to hinder the investigation. Everything is being done to solve this case,” he said according to Colombian media.
Valledupar has been the scene of many violent incidents thus far this year. The murder of Berkemeijer was the 57th murder officially registered this year in the region, according to the AD.
