In Amsterdam Nieuw-West, a 24-year-old man with an intellectual disability was assaulted and robbed during the night by two Arabic-speaking youths. The attack took place between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning in a park near Pieter Calandlaan, local AT5 reported.
According to police, the victim was first approached around 11 p.m. in the park. Armed with knives, the attackers forced him to hand over his phone, ID card, and PIN, and even compelled him to increase the spending limit on his account. He was beaten and intimidated throughout the night.
The abuse escalated further: the suspects compelled the victim to lie among stones near a skate park, holding him there until daylight. At one point, a passerby confronted the pair and asked what they were doing. Police noted that the youths reacted casually, after which the man walked away. The victim remained trapped until morning.
The perpetrators are described as around 17 years old and speaking Arabic to each other. Police have released a description and are urgently seeking witnesses, particularly the passerby who briefly interacted with the attackers.
The case adds to growing concerns over public safety in Amsterdam. Just last month, a 22-year-old asylum seeker from a local reception centre was charged with the fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old girl and linked to two sexual assaults. Fears have only deepened; one survey shows more than 85% of women in the city now avoid certain areas—such as parks, tunnels, and shopping streets—after dark.
