OSCE Representative condemns arson attack on offices of De Telegraaf newspaper in Netherlands, urges complete and thorough investigation

VIENNA, 26 June 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today expressed alarm after a van was driven into the offices of the De Telegraaf newspaper in the Netherlands, and the vehicle then set on fire.  

“I strongly condemn this deliberate attack against the largest daily newspaper in the Netherlands,” Désir said. “I express my full solidarity with the newspaper. This is a heinous crime which strikes at the core of press freedom and democracy in the country.”

On 26 June at around 04.00am local time, security cameras filmed how a suspect deliberately drove a van into the head office of De Telegraaf on the outskirts of Amsterdam. According to reports, the driver then set the van on fire, and fled by car with another suspect. Although employees were present in the building at the time of the attack, nobody was injured. Both suspects remain at large.  

According to the editor-in-chief of De Telegraaf, the motive behind the incident remains unclear. This attack comes only five days after an anti-tank rocket was fired at the offices of the weeklies Panorama and Nieuwe Revu in Amsterdam. 

The Representative welcomed Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s immediate condemnation of the attack who described it as “a slap in the face for the free press and Dutch democracy.”

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.