Killing of Peter R. de Vries
Lange Leidsedwarsstraat, the street where the shooting took place (not the exact location)
Killing of Peter R. de Vries is located in Amsterdam
Killing of Peter R. de Vries
Killing of Peter R. de Vries (Amsterdam)
LocationLange Leidsedwarsstraat, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Coordinates52°21′50″N 4°53′05″E / 52.363961871°N 4.884625°E / 52.363961871; 4.884625
Date6 July 2021 (2021-07-06)
c. 19:30 (CEST)
Attack type
Shooting with a handgun
VictimPeter R. de Vries

In the evening of 6 July 2021, Dutch investigative journalist and crime reporter Peter R. de Vries was shot in the head after leaving the television studio of RTL Boulevard in Amsterdam where he had appeared as a guest. Several bullets were fired at him in the Lange Leidsedwarsstraat, near the Leidseplein, while he was walking to his car.[1] He was taken to the VU University Medical Center in critical condition.[2][3][4][5][6] De Vries died of his injuries on 15 July.[7]

Background

Peter R. de Vries was a television personality and the most well-known crime reporter in the Netherlands. He gained national prominence with his own television program Peter R. de Vries: Crime Reporter. Throughout his career, he reported about high-profile criminal cases, such as the kidnapping of Freddy Heineken, the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, the murder of Marianne Vaatstra, as well as other murder cases, scandals and wrongful convictions.[8]

Later in his career, he became one of the most visible figures in the journalistic investigation of cold cases in the Netherlands, such as the death of Nicky Verstappen, in which he supported the victim's family in court. He also was a frequent guest in talk shows and started a short political career with his own political party. A central theme in his later work was his fight against (what he saw as) injustice.

In 2021, De Vries supported the crown witness Nabil B. in the Marengo process. Less than two years earlier, B.'s lawyer, Derk Wiersum, had been murdered outside his home in Amsterdam.[9]

Reactions

Flowers at Dam Square, Amsterdam after the shooting. The text reads "Attack on the freedom of press? No, an attack on his involvement with the Marengo trial!"

The King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands called it an attack on journalism and an attack on the rechtsstaat (rule of law).[10] On the evening of the attack, the Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema, chief public prosecutor René de Beukelaer and police chief Frank Paauw held a press conference.[11] Halsema spoke of a "brutal cowardly crime".[12] Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister of Justice Ferdinand Grapperhaus also held a press conference.[13] Rutte called it an attack on free journalism.[14] The attack "affects journalists and damages our society", according to Grapperhaus.[15] The Dutch Association of Journalists stated: "This hits journalism right in the heart."[16] Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, expressed her condolences and expressed her support for the Dutch authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.[17] After the death of De Vries, Rutte stated that "We owe it to Peter R. de Vries to ensure that justice takes place".[18] Many people have reacted to the attack and his death,[19][20][21][22][23] including many members of the Dutch House of Representatives and members of the European Parliament.[18][24][25] Crime reporter John van den Heuvel stated that "[De Vries] will always remain an example and a source of inspiration".[26]

Investigation

The Dutch police arrested three suspects that same evening.[27] Two suspects were in a car that was stopped on the A4 motorway near Leidschendam.[28] The third person was released the next day, and is no longer a suspect.[29] As of July 15, a 35-year-old Polish man identified as Kamil E. is the suspected getaway car driver, while a 21-year-old man and aspiring rapper known as Delano G. is the suspected shooter.[30][31] Dutch media has reported that the suspected killer is the nephew or cousin of one of the henchmen of Ridouan Taghi.[32][33] De Vries was involved in the prosecution of Taghi.[31]

The trial against the two suspects opened in Amsterdam in June 2022.[8]

Security

De Vries was frequently threatened, but was reported as not wanting any police protection or private security.[34] However, there was criticism that he could have been protected better.[35][36] He had a tattoo on his leg with his motto On bended knee is no way to be free. He explained the tattoo as "It means that we are not subservient to anyone. That no one can dominate us. That means that we are never, ever, anyone's slave."[37] The demissionary Minister of Justice and Security, Ferd Grapperhaus, commissioned an independent investigation into the security of De Vries.[38] His partner, Tahmina Akefi, said that his murder could have been prevented and that the system failed them. She also denied reports that De Vries did not want security.[39]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Dit weten we nu over de aanslag op Peter R. de Vries". NOS (in Dutch). 8 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  2. ↑ Laumans, Wouter; Vugts, Paul (6 July 2021). "Peter R. de Vries neergeschoten op Lange Leidsedwarsstraat" [Peter R. de Vries shot down at Lange Leidsedwarsstraat]. Het Parool (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  3. ↑ "Misdaadjournalist Peter R. de Vries neergeschoten in centrum Amsterdam". NU.nl (in Dutch). 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  4. ↑ "Crime reporter Peter de Vries fighting for life after Amsterdam shooting". The Guardian. 6 July 2021.
  5. ↑ "Peter R. de Vries neergeschoten in centrum Amsterdam, drie verdachten aangehouden". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 7 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  6. ↑ "Verdachten aanslag op Peter R. de Vries zijn een Pool uit Maurik en een Rotterdammer". Metronieuws (in Dutch). 7 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  7. ↑ "Peter R. de Vries (64) overleden aan verwondingen na moordaanslag". NU.nl (in Dutch). 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  8. 1 2 "Peter de Vries: Trial opens in killing of Dutch reporter". DW.COM. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  9. ↑ "Crime journalist Peter R de Vries is known for his high profile cases". DutchNews.nl. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  10. ↑ Schmale, Jeroen (7 July 2021). "Koning Willem-Alexander: 'Dit is een aanslag op de journalistiek en op de rechtsstaat'". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  11. ↑ Hielkema, David; Koops, Ruben (6 July 2021). "Burgemeester Femke Halsema: 'Peter R. de Vries is nog niet klaar'". Het Parool.
  12. ↑ "Halsema: 'Peter R. de Vries vecht voor zijn leven'". Telegraaf. 6 July 2021.
  13. ↑ "Persconferentie aanslag op Peter R. de Vries: de neergeschoten misdaadverslaggever vecht voor zijn leven. Drie verdachten aangehouden". Dagblad van het Noorden.
  14. ↑ "Rutte: 'Aanslag Peter R. de Vries is een aanslag op vrije journalistiek'". NU. 6 July 2021.
  15. ↑ "Grapperhaus: "Aanslag op Peter R. de Vries beschadigt onze samenleving"". www.at5.nl.
  16. ↑ "NVJ - Misdaadjournalist Peter R. de Vries neergeschoten; 'dit treft journalistiek recht in het hart'". www.nvj.nl. 6 July 2021.
  17. ↑ @vonderleyen (7 July 2021). "My thoughts are with Peter R. de Vries and his family. I'm shocked and alarmed. My thoughts are with Peter R. de Vries and his family. I'm shocked and alarmed. I call on the national authorities to clarify the situation and bring the perpetrators to justice" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. 1 2 Quekel, Sebastiaan (15 July 2021). "Rutte geschokt: 'Aan Peter verplicht dat het recht zijn beloop krijgt'". De Stentor (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  19. ↑ "Geschokte reacties op neergeschoten Peter R. de Vries". Telegraaf. 6 July 2021.
  20. ↑ "Reacties op aanslag op Peter R. de Vries: 'Steeds blijken verdachten reeds bekend bij de politie'". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 9 July 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  21. ↑ "Reacties op overlijden Peter R. de Vries: Een onbeschrijfelijk groot verlies". NU. 15 July 2021.
  22. ↑ "Geschokte reacties op neerschieten Peter R. de Vries". NRC.
  23. ↑ "Video-overzicht: geschokte reacties en politie-onderzoek na aanslag op De Vries". nos.nl. 7 July 2021.
  24. ↑ @guyverhofstadt (15 July 2021). "Shocking and sad to hear of the death of Peter R. de Vries, a fearless journalist and fighter for the truth. This…" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 July 2021 – via Twitter.
  25. ↑ @EP_President (15 July 2021). "I am very sad to hear that Dutch journalist Peter R. de Vries has died today.His bravery in exposing organised cr…" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 July 2021 – via Twitter.
  26. ↑ ""Het ontzettend verdrietige bericht van het overlijden van Peter..."". Instagram. 15 July 2021. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021.
  27. ↑ "Mogelijke schutter en twee andere verdachten opgepakt voor aanslag De Vries". NU. 6 July 2021.
  28. ↑ "Dit weten we nu over de verdachten van de aanslag op Peter R. de Vries". nos.nl. 8 July 2021.
  29. ↑ Herter, Anna (8 July 2021). "Dit weten we nu over de aanslag op Peter R. de Vries". Het Parool.
  30. ↑ "Suspect in shooting of Dutch journalist linked to Moroccan gang". brusselstimes.com.
  31. 1 2 "Dutch crime reporter Peter de Vries dies after shooting". The Guardian. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  32. ↑ "Suspect in De Vries shooting linked to Taghi; Crime writer's condition still critical". NL Times. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  33. ↑ "Journalist Peter R de Vries dies in hospital after being shot in street". DutchNews.nl. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  34. ↑ "Peter R. de Vries kende de risico's, maar 'wilde geen beveiliging'". RTL Nieuws. 7 July 2021.
  35. ↑ "Advocaten kroongetuige: 'Staat had Peter R. de Vries beter kunnen beveiligen'". nos.nl. 13 July 2021.
  36. ↑ "Wilde De Vries geen beveiliging, of zijn er fouten gemaakt?". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 13 July 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  37. ↑ "Tattoo met indrukwekkend levensmotto Peter R. de Vries". RTL Nieuws. 7 July 2021.
  38. ↑ "Grapperhaus laat onderzoek doen naar beveiliging Peter R. de Vries". NU. 15 July 2021.
  39. ↑ "Partner Peter R. de Vries maakt zich bekend: 'Aanslag had voorkomen kunnen worden'". Parool. 31 January 2022.

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