Investigation into New Year's Day Tragedy Continues
Amsterdam police have announced they are now considering the possibility that two Syrian teenagers, who were fatally shot on New Year's Day 2026 in Piet Wiedijk Park, may have been random victims. This scenario is one of several being investigated as authorities work to determine the motive behind the killings of 16-year-old Mohammad and 18-year-old Mohammed.
The two victims, both asylum seekers, were living in a shelter for minor asylum seekers in Amsterdam. One of the teenagers was registered in Delft but spent most of his time at the Amsterdam facility.
Details of the Incident and Initial Response
The shooting occurred around 11:45 p.m. on January 1, 2026, on a bridge next to Piet Wiedijk Park, located in the Nieuw-West district near Sloterplas lake. Emergency services responded to reports of a shooting, but attempts to resuscitate the boys were unsuccessful, and both were pronounced dead at the scene. A third boy who was with them managed to escape and has since been identified as a key witness in the ongoing investigation.
Following the incident, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema described the murders as a 'horrific and tragic' start to the year, highlighting the painful irony that the boys were killed while seeking safety in a new country. The city increased police patrols in the Osdorp and Nieuw-West neighborhoods, and the COA (Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers) provided intensive counseling to the residents of the Sloterweg facility where the victims lived.
Arrest Made, Motive Remains Unclear
On January 20, 2026, police arrested a 25-year-old man from Amsterdam on suspicion of involvement in the killings. He remains in custody, though the arrest was initially withheld from public knowledge to protect the integrity of the investigation. Despite the arrest, the motive behind the double murder has not yet been confirmed by authorities.
Investigators are exploring multiple theories. While the 'random victims' scenario is now being considered, earlier reports from sources like Het Parool suggested the shooting might be linked to a 'wider conflict' between Syrian youths and a Spanish-speaking group of South American background in the Amsterdam Nieuw-West area. Police are also examining potential connections to a stabbing incident at Mundus College on December 19, 2025, where a 16-year-old Syrian student was wounded.
Ongoing Search for Evidence and Witnesses
The weapon used in the shooting has not yet been recovered, prompting a renewed search of Piet Wiedijk Park on February 24, 2026. Police continue to appeal to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information or relevant video footage from security cameras, dashcams, or video doorbells to come forward. The investigation by the Team Grootschalige Opsporing is ongoing as authorities work to piece together the events of that tragic New Year's night.
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