A man shot dead in Amsterdam’s Zuidoost district last night died in gang-related violence, police said on Wednesday.

Neighbours heard gunshots shortly before 02.00 hours and the victim, who was 24, was hit several times, news agency ANP says. Eyewitnesses saw two men drive off on a moped. It was found later and had been set on fire.

Although the victim was ‘known to police’, it is not clear if the shooting is connected to a string of other gangland killings in Amsterdam, ANP says. Four people have died in the capital so far this year.

A police spokesman said the wave of killings is taking up a lot of time. ‘Every new gangland killing is halting another investigation,’ he said.

Amsterdam police have now asked for support from other police regions, the spokesman said.