Report highlights shortcomings in care before killing of 11-year-old Sohani

The organisations involved in the care of Hamza L. have endorsed the findings of the joint report by the Inspectorate of Justice and Security and the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ). The report concerns the killing of 11-year-old Sohani in Nieuwegein on 1 February 2025, committed by L., who was in a psychotic state at the time.

According to the inspectors, L. received support from multiple care providers in the years leading up to the incident, but the quality of care fell short, and warning signs as well as safety risks were not properly assessed.

“We are deeply affected by the incident. It has also had a major impact on our staff. We support the conclusions and recommendations in the inspectorate report,” the municipality of Nieuwegein, police Midden-Nederland, and several care institutions involved in L.’s treatment wrote in a joint response.

“Together we are responsible for detecting and sharing signals of increasing risk as quickly as possible, and for acting on them within our capabilities. We are continuously learning in this regard, both within our own organisations and in cooperation with each other, and the inspectorate report provides a clear direction for improvement.”

L. received psychiatric treatment from Fivoor in The Hague, and was also receiving outpatient support from the same organisation in Utrecht at the time of the incident.

Following the case, Fivoor launched an internal investigation and implemented an improvement plan. While the IGJ found no direct treatment failures that led to the offence, it did conclude that aspects of the care process were insufficiently organised and that improvements were necessary.

Fivoor said it is strengthening its risk signalling system and improving information sharing between professionals, and confirmed that its improvement plan has been submitted to the inspectorate. The organisation added that it has taken the inspectorate’s findings and recommendations seriously.

The court recently imposed compulsory treatment in a psychiatric hospital (TBS with mandatory treatment) on L.