paroolOct 21, 2026, 16:14

What we know so far about the murder of Hajar

Hajar, a 29-year-old woman reported missing in early October, was found dead in a suitcase in Amsterdam shortly after. Police identified 23-year-old suspect Abdi A., who was apprehended following an unrelated violent incident in Spierdijk.

The 29-year-old Hajar was reported missing on October 5 after leaving home with a suitcase. Following a police search, her body was discovered on October 16 inside a suitcase in the water near the Amsteldijk in Amsterdam. Investigators believe she was murdered shortly after her disappearance, likely within a former school building in the Buitenveldert district. The Public Prosecution Service has confirmed there is no evidence of sexual assault in this case.

The investigation led to the identification of 23-year-old Abdi A., who had been seen with Hajar near the RAI transit hub shortly before she vanished. After initially being treated as a witness, A. became a suspect. He was eventually apprehended on October 20 in the village of Spierdijk following an assault on his former foster father. A., a Somali national with a permanent residence permit in the Netherlands, had been living without a fixed address. Mayor Femke Halsema has highlighted the tragedy, drawing parallels to the safety of women in the city.

Amsterdam Netherlands World

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Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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