Syrian asylum seekers identified as teens murdered in Amsterdam park; No arrests yet
The two teenagers shot and killed in an Amsterdam park late on New Year's Day were both identified as Syrians seeking asylum in the Netherlands. Of the two victims, the 18-year-old man was living at a reception center housing about 80 people on Sloterweg. Police said the 16-year-old boy living in Delft, but he spent most of his time at the same Amsterdam facility, according to Parool.
Sources told the newspaper that the two were possibly targeted in connection with an ongoing conflict between youths from South America and others from Syria. They were found with gunshot wounds on a bridge in the Piet Wiedijkpark in Nieuw-West late Thursday night.
Police and paramedics attempted to revive the two, one of whom was believed to be named Mohammed, but they were pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators were searching for the gunman, but did not know if multiple suspects were involved in the violence.
The ongoing conflict may also be the motive behind the stabbing of a 16-year-old at the Mundus College secondary school on Burgemeester Hogguerstraat last month. The boy was stabbed in the leg on the last morning of school before the winter break, and six students were taken into custody.
Though she would not comment on the suspected motive, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said it was a "bad start" to the New Year, during an interview with AT5 on Friday. "Two such young boys, dead, murdered, is of course truly horrific," she said. It was particularly "painful and tragic" as they were looking for a safe start in a new country. "And then they end up like this."
Asylum agency COA was offering residents of the Sloterweg facility assistance and counselling services after the murders were discovered, a COA spokesperson told ANP. The agency also would not comment on the motive, referring such questions to the police.
Investigators have yet to release a description of anyone considered to be a person of interest in the double homicide on the bridge in the park. A major crimes unit was assigned to the case, and anyone with information or video footage from the area should contact police, authorities said.
