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Memorial placed for two Syrian teenagers killed in Amsterdam

◆2 sources

A memorial was placed in Amsterdam's Piet Wiedijkpark for Mohammad Nor Alalo, 16, and Mohammed Al Mukrasi, 18, who were shot dead on New Year's Day while cycling towards Osdorpplein with another boy. About 30 local residents attended, following an earlier memorial for people close to the teenagers, including their teachers. Their families live in Syria.

The teenagers had lived at an asylum seekers' centre for unaccompanied minors on Sloterweg. The Public Prosecution Service said the shooting followed a YouTuber's prank call to a suspect, who allegedly summoned the caller to a bridge between Piet Wiedijkpark and Christoffel Plantijnpad. The two teenagers were shot there while passing by; the third boy escaped. The memorial, bearing a ladybird as a symbol against senseless violence, was placed near the bridge.

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Crime

Explosions and suspected youth conflict in Amsterdam Nieuw-West

3 sources

A series of explosions and other violent incidents in Osdorp and Slotermeer prompted police and the municipality to investigate a possible conflict involving young people. Police said social-media accounts linked the incidents to groups described as OSD from Osdorp and BVL from Slotermeer, but the mayor later said the people involved are broad networks of young people rather than clearly defined groups. Mayor Femke Halsema said there were signs that the situation was becoming quieter, while stressing that it remained worrying. The municipality has 39 young people in view; six are under criminal investigation, 13 are receiving a personalised approach, and 31 home visits have taken place. The city installed additional cameras at locations in Nieuw-West for at least three months and deployed extra police, enforcement officers and youth workers. A fast-food restaurant on Tussen Meer in Osdorp was closed for at least three months after it was targeted three times in about a week and a half: an explosive damaged its door on 17 October, an unexploded device was found two days later, and another explosion damaged the entrance on the night of 28 to 29 October. Police had made no arrests in that case and said there was a significant risk of repetition. Separately, police arrested two people after investigating a suspicious situation at a garage unit on J. de Koostraat in Osdorp; the investigation is ongoing.