Amsterdam entrepreneurs whose cases have been shot or a hand grenade has been put out, according to the police, in most cases have a link with criminal networks.
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That writes mayor Femke Halsema in a letter to the city council. Last year, there were eighteen violent incidents involving the shooting or laying of a hand grenade, about the same as in previous years.
The Task Force on Violence and Harassment Against Entrepreneurs (GITO), consisting of the police, the Public Prosecution Service, the municipality, the tax authorities and the ministry, examined 37 violent incidents from previous years. In 26 cases there was an incident with an explosive device and in 13 cases there was a fire. In two cases there was a grenade and a shell.
No clear motive
However, according to the Task Force, there is usually no opportunity to ‘investigate’ attacks, because the investigative capacity needed for more urgent priorities, such as liquidations, is deployed. Also, in most cases there is no ‘hard police data’ on the motives for the attacks, which makes it impossible to determine whether the aim was to force a closure.
However, according to the task force, the placement of a hand grenade can be seen as a clear warning to the affected entrepreneurs, even if there is no closure.
Screening
The best instrument that the municipality has for prevention is to screen entrepreneurs and companies via the Bibob Act. Halsema warns that the corona crisis is putting pressure on the income of many companies, which could lead to many changes of companies and entrepreneurs in the near future. “The need to be prepared for this and to be able to screen quickly and necessary is evident.”
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