Hajar’s family questions Amsterdam police response after her desperate plea for help
After messages pleading for help were sent on 4 October, Hajar’s disappearance was initially deemed non-urgent. Her family is questioning the response of Amsterdam police. On 22 October, investigators published their timeline of the case.
“Help me. Now. He’s killing me.” At 11:15 a.m. on 4 October, Hajar is said to have sent these words to an acquaintance. Dutch daily De Telegraaf, which spoke to someone close to her and reviewed the messages, has revealed this plea for help.
The young woman of Moroccan origin then stopped answering calls. Her family alerted police at around 8:15 p.m. that same day. Despite the alert, authorities initially classified her disappearance as non-urgent.
“We were very worried, but we were told we had to wait 24 hours,” a person close to her told the daily, as quoted by AT5. The family also criticizes investigators for the delay in issuing a search notice, which was published on 13 October.
Police retrace their initial search
In a statement on 22 October, Amsterdam police confirmed that Hajar was reported missing on 4 October and that worrying messages had been received that morning. Her disappearance was reclassified as urgent the following evening, 5 October.
Police then tried to locate her phone. During the night, its signal led them to a building in Buitenveldert, where they conducted searches. Hajar remained missing.
The family is also questioning why surveillance footage showing the young woman with a man near a restaurant in Buitenveldert was not released, according to what a family member told De Telegraaf.
On 16 October, Hajar’s body was found in a suitcase submerged in the Amstel. A 23-year-old man was arrested on 20 October as part of the criminal investigation.
“It hurts to see so many police officers mobilized after her body was found,” a person close to her said. In response to the criticism, police plan to speak with the family again.
