by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
SCHOONHOVEN, NETHERLANDS (Worthy News) – Investigations continued Monday into the shooting of a Dutch police employee in the western Netherlands after he publicly criticized Iran’s Islamic rulers, in a case raising fresh concerns that Tehran’s crackdown on dissent is extending into Europe.
The 36-year-old victim was ambushed Thursday morning outside his home in Schoonhoven, a town near the port city Rotterdam, as he put out his trash bin, witnesses said.
Authorities have not publicly identified the victim.
He remained in serious condition, according to earlier reports, though officials had not provided an updated medical status.
ATTACK PROBE UNDERWAY
“He was mercilessly fired upon,” a resident said, adding that the victim appeared to have been under surveillance beforehand.
Witnesses reported hearing gunshots before finding the man seriously wounded near a parked car.
Police launched a major investigation, with a specialized major crimes team—known in Dutch as the TGO—analyzing images of a suspected getaway vehicle, officials said.
Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive, but have not ruled out international links. Police urged witnesses to come forward as they search for suspects.
The victim had built a significant online following as an outspoken critic of Iran’s leadership.
ONLINE CRITIC PROFILED
The victim had built a significant online following as an outspoken critic of Iran’s leadership, with roughly 40,000 to 41,000 followers on the social media platform Instagram, according to Dutch media.
He reportedly used his account to voice strong opposition, including posts in which he appeared to praise U.S. President Donald J. Trump following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
His social media activity, reviewed by Dutch media, also suggested he identified as an atheist and shared content supportive of opposition figures such as Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, as well as posts highlighting protests in Iran.
Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel said authorities are investigating whether there is a link to Iran.
“The fact that he is Iranian and spoke out against the regime is something we must take seriously,” he said.
EUROPE SECURITY CONCERNS
The case comes amid growing warnings that Iran has increasingly targeted dissidents beyond its borders.
Dutch intelligence services have previously linked Iran to killings of dissidents on Dutch soil.
Authorities said there were strong indications Tehran was behind the assassinations of Ahmad Mola Nissi, who was shot dead in The Hague in 2017, and Ali Motamed—also known as Mohammad Reza Kolahi Samadi—who was killed in Almere in 2015.
Both men were critics of Iran’s leadership and were living in exile in the Netherlands.
European authorities have also linked Iran to plots or attacks targeting dissidents elsewhere on the continent.
PAST CASES IN EUROPE
In 2018, French authorities said they foiled a planned bombing of an Iranian opposition rally near Paris, later blaming Iranian operatives.
Denmark has also accused Iran of planning an assassination on its soil targeting an opposition figure.
British authorities have warned of threats to journalists and dissidents they say are linked to Iran.
Security agencies have said Iran has increasingly relied on proxies and criminal networks to target critics abroad, allowing Tehran to distance itself from operations carried out on European soil.
The shooting in Schoonhoven was likely to intensify scrutiny over whether Europe, including the Netherlands, has become a battleground for efforts to silence opposition voices abroad.
Authorities have not ruled out that the latest attack in the Netherlands could be linked to Tehran, but stressed that the investigation is ongoing.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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