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“Attack on all of us”: European leaders condemn the shooting of Dutch journalists | Netherlands


European leaders and press freedom activists condemned Reporter Peter R de Vries was shot dead On a busy street in Amsterdam, the veteran Dutch crime reporter fought for his life in the hospital. He demanded that those who attacked him be brought to justice.

“This is a crime against journalism and an attack on our values ​​of democracy and the rule of law,” said Charles Michel, President of the Council of Europe. Tweet“We will continue to defend freedom of the press tirelessly.”

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his wife Maxima expressed “deep shock” at De Vries’ attack. De Vries was shot five times shortly after leaving the TV studio about 7.45, including one shot in the head. . Tuesday afternoon.

The royal statement said: “Journalists must be able to do their important work freely without threats.” “In a country under the rule of law, we stand with all those who defend freedom of the press.”

The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Lein expressed her “ideas and solidarity” to the 64-year-old journalist and his family, and the President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli says Attacks on reporters “are attacks on all of us.”

De Vries is known for reporting on the kidnapping of millionaire brewer Freddy Heineken in 1983, a national figure in the United States. NetherlandsHe has owned his own TV show for 17 years and worked with the families of victims to track down outstanding cases and expose judicial injustice.

Police said on Wednesday that shortly after the shooting in the center of the Dutch capital, two men were arrested on the A4 highway and a 35-year-old Polish national and a 21-year-old Dutch were detained and will appear in court. on Friday.

Peter de Vries Photo: Remko de Waal/ANP/AFP/Getty Images

The police statement stated that the two were suspected of being “directly involved” in the attack. An 18-year-old man from Amsterdam who was also arrested on Tuesday night has been released and is no longer a suspect in the shooting.

There was no further report on the reporter’s condition, and on Tuesday he said he was in critical condition. De Vries’ son Royce said that the family “the worst nightmare has come true. In these difficult times, we surround Peter with love and hope.”

At the scene of the shooting, shocked residents laid flowers and lit candles on Langresval Street near Leidseplein in the center of Amsterdam.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said at the city council meeting that this “cowardly and brutal attack” shocked the city. “We are angry and determined,” she said, calling de Vries the “pillar of people in need” and “there are admirers from all walks of life.”

The journalist has been protected by the police after receiving death threats in the past and has served as an adviser and confidant to the main prosecution witness since last year. Ridouan Taghi, the most wanted criminal in the Netherlands.

Two years ago, the lawyer of the witness Nabil B, Derk Wiersum, died unfortunately Was shot in the street Shortly after leaving his home in Amsterdam, the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was killed, described as “incredibly disturbing.”

Headquartered in New York Committee to Protect Journalists Calls on Dutch Authorities Investigating whether De Vries was “targeted because of his work”, stating that EU journalists “must be able to investigate crime and corruption without worrying about safety”.

The media watchdog “Reporters Without Borders” expressed “complete unity”, while the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Dunja Mijatović called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice to ensure the safety of local journalists. Europe.

In recent years, the group has been shocked by the killing of several investigative reporters and crime reporters.

In April, Giorgos Karaivaz, who reported a crime story on the private Star TV channel, was arrested. A 9mm pistol fired by a motorcycle passenger hit at least 6 rounds Outside his home in Athens, the police called it an execution homicide.

Five years ago, investigative reporters Daphne Caruana Galicia In 2017, four years after Ján Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kušnírová were found, he was killed by a car bomb in Malta Was shot and killed outside his home in Slovakia.





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