Today Dutch police escorting a protected journalist, stopped a car following them on a highway in the Amsterdam area and arrested one man. They believe they have thwarted a possible assassination attempt similar to that last year against Peter R. de Vries.
The below article from Algemeen Dagblad is translated by Fousesquawk.
Arrest on A2 after threatening situation regarding John van den Heuvel
Video: The arrest on A2 this afternoon followed a threatening situation regarding crime reporter John van den Heuvel, who was under protection by police. That is according to several police sources to this news site.
Yelle Tieleman and Koen Voskuil, 6 January 2022. Latest update: 19:09
Van den Heuvel was sitting in an armored police vehicle on the highway when a suspicious situation arose. "It looked like he was being followed, thus, the alarm was sounded," said a police source. "The Special Intervention Service stopped an Audi on the road" One person is in custody. According to another police source, the arrestee is someone with a criminal past to his name. In addition to the fast Audi RS3, which was stopped on the road, some motorcycles were reportedly seen on the highway, who rode off at a high speed.
"It is true that in the afternoon in the Amsterdam area, an incident occurred, in which my security team followed a precautionary protocol and extra security measures were taken," Telegraaf reporter John van den Heuvel replied when asked. "The police are conducting an investigation after the incident, and I have the fullest trust that this is being done in the proper way."
On Instragram, the journalist expressed his appreciation for the police security team. "What seemed like a peaceful workday, today ended abruptly in a messy, possibly suspicious situation, in which my security team from the DKDB, fortunately, reacted professionally and adequately. I greatly appreciate their sharpness and alertness," writes Van den Heuvel. "Thanks to these police, I am fortunately able to continue doing my work. Hopefully, further police investigation will bring more clarity to the background of this occurrence. Thank you for the sweet messages I have received,"
The National (Police) unit speaks of a suspicious situation: "The incident this afternoon on A2 involved a protected person (TBP). According to the security protocol, the TBP drove to the nearest police location. The police are investigating the matter and cannot at this moment go into the substance."
"Deeply sad"
"It is deeply sad that someone who is just doing his job is threatened in this manner. And that they were apparently ready to make it happen," reacted Thomas Bruning, General Secretary of the Journalist Union, NJV. "We are moving toward the Italian conditions, in which people who work in justice or journalism have to be protected. That is a sad commentary. I have a lot of respect for John not giving up and just continuing to do his job under these extreme circumstances. A positive aspect is that his security works."
Extra security
According to police sources, crime reporter Van den Heuvel was transferred to Driebergen, where the main office of the National Police Unit is located. "That was the closest secure place at that time". At that (location) there was extra security this afternoon. In front of the gate were officers with automatic weapons and bullet-proof vests. A helicopter also landed.
Caption under photo: The headquarters of the National Unit is extra heavily guarded. (ANP)
The incident on A2 led to a traffic jam. According to traffic information from the ANWB, the amount of delay from Amsterdam to Utrecht in the early afternoon was one-and-a-half hours due to the traffic jam. Now all lanes are open.
Threat
Van den Heuvel has long been threatened for his work. In 2017, he filed a complaint against the motorcycle club, No Surrender, because he was threatened. At the end of 2018, he was unable to work at RTL Boulevard, where he reported on criminal cases. The chance that criminals would carry out an attack against him was considered real at the time. In addition, after the murder of his colleague, Peter R. de Vries, he did not appear on the program for some time.
In 2020, a 31-year-old man from Amsterdam was sentenced to 4 years in prison * for possession of a rocket launcher. According to the Public Prosecutor, the rocket launcher was going to be used to carry out an attack against Van den Heuvel.
*Translator's note: In the linked article 2020 article from Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch), the defendant is identified as Yassine A., a member of a gang of predominately Moroccan members.
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