DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

25 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Report slams security failings ahead of three murders linked to crime gang

March 1, 2023
People lay flowers at the site where Pieter R. de Vries was shot in July 2021. Photo: Dutch News
People lay flowers at the site of the De Vries shooting. Photo: DutchNews.nl

There were significant failings on behalf of the police, public prosecution department and counter-terrorism unit NCTV ahead of three murders connected to a major criminal organisation, the government’s safety research council OVV said on Wednesday.

Lawyer Derk Wiersum, television crime journalist Peter R de Vries and innocent bystander Reduan B were all linked to the same police investigation into the Ridouan Taghi crime gang and were all shot dead.

Warnings were ignored ahead of each murder and crucial information was not shared with the other parties involved, the OVV said in a 100 page report on the killings.

The report shows that Nabil B, a crown witness, and his family, including Reduan, had said they were in danger repeatedly but that the Bewaken en Beveiligen domestic security unit would only intervene on the basis of concrete information.

Warnings by other family members did not count, and police and the prosecution department did not share the information they had with the security experts, the report said.

Reduan was shot dead in his company office in March 2018, two weeks after he was told there was not enough capacity to offer him security.

Car

The situation was similar in the case of lawyer Derk Wiersum, who was representing Nabil B. And information about a black Renault Megane, seen several times in the vicinity of Wiersum’s home was not followed up on, even though it had false number plates, the report said.

Wiersum was shot dead in front of his home in Amsterdam in September 2018.

In the case of Peter R de Vries, signals were missed or left uninvestigated. In particular, a warning from a worker at the car park where De Vries parked his car while appearing on television talk show RTL Boulevard was not properly acted upon.

He reported that De Vries had been followed by a man with distinctive tattoos. Police found nothing notable on security camera footage and failed to pass on the information. De Vries was shot dead as he walked to his car on July 6, 2021.

The man later transpired to be Kamil E, now on trial for his role in the murder.

Recommendations

The OVV says in its recommendations that in future the police and prosecution department need to make sure that proper security measures are in place before going public about having crown witnesses. In addition, processes for exchanging information between the groups involved in the Bewaken en Beveiligen unit need to be improved.

De Vries’s son Royce said the OVV’s conclusions make for ‘extremely difficult’ reading.

The report, he said. ‘has had more impact on me than I thought. The mistakes that were made, the way it went down. My father was repeatedly left standing in front of a closed door.’

Justice minister Dilan Yeşilgöz said she would adopt the OVV’s recommendations for ‘further reform’ of the system.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Crime Society
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Dutch fundamentalist Protestants again say "no" to women MPs
AEX falls as Trump threatens 50% import tariff on European goods
Dutch forensic experts develop deepfake video detector
Zaanstad says yes to tourist tickets for Zaanse Schans windmills
Fewer international child abductions by parents last year
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now