An unidentified man crashes van into Telegraaf offices. After that he lights it on fire and runs off. Here is everything we know so far about the incident.
What we know so far about the attack on the Telegraaf
According to police reports, the attack happened around 4 AM last night in Amsterdam. Authorities are certain the attack on the building of the Dutch newspaper was deliberate, considering the video evidence. From the footage you can see a man wearing all black ram a white van into the building several times. After that he gets out of the van, opens the back doors and lights it on fire. This causes an explosion and the culprit is seen running off seemingly unharmed. According to police, he was then picked up by a dark BMW in a nearby street. At the moment, police is urging for any witnesses to come forward.
Luckily, there was no one in the building at the time, so there are no casualties. In a statement for the media, editor in chief Paul Jansen stated ‘We will not be intimidated’. He then went on to explain that everyone is very shocked, since they have received threats before, but it is too early to speculate who may be behind the attack.
This is not the first attack on a news outlet
Just last week, the offices of Panorama weekly news magazine were shot at by an anti-tank missile. According to reports, a 41-year-old man has been arrested. Allegedly he is also a member of a motorbike gang. There is a concern that these attacks are in connection to the news outlets’ recent reports on organised crime in the Netherlands. Prime minister Mark Rutte has described the attack as a ‘slap in the face to the free press.’
Bi-zar #Telegraaf pic.twitter.com/gbfhxdq7wo
— Wouter de Winther (@wouterdewinther) June 26, 2018
What is your opinion regarding these recent attacks on news outlets? Do you see this as an attack on free speech? Let is know in the comments below!