Murdered Syrian teens may have been random victims, police say

Two Syrian teenagers who were shot dead in a park in Amsterdam on New Year’s Day may have been random victims, city police now say.

The option that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time is one of several scenarios investigators say they are now considering. The police had earlier referred to a possible “wider conflict” between Syrian and Spanish youths.

The park in Amsterdam’s Nieuw West district where the shooting took place was searched again on Tuesday because the gun has still not been found.

The two boys, aged 16 and 18, were found seriously injured in the park after emergency services responded to reports of a shooting. Attempts to resuscitate them were unsuccessful and both died at the scene. A third boy who was with them managed to escape.

Both victims were living in accommodation for refugees in Amsterdam.

On January 20, police arrested a 25-year-old man from Amsterdam on suspicion of shooting the two boys. He has been remanded in custody for at least a further 90 days.

Police say they are still keen to speak to anyone who may have information or who saw anything. This could include footage from security cameras in the area or from video doorbells.