Movies

# The Dark Truth Behind Netflix’s iHostage

BBG News

On February 22nd, 2022, I found myself in an unexpected and tense scenario unfolding at the Apple Store on Leidseplein, Amsterdam. A young man, just 27 years old, wielding a firearm, made his way into the store and took a customer hostage for almost five hours. His demands were extraordinary: €200 million in cryptocurrency and a peaceful exit from the building. However, as we all know, life rarely follows a script.

Bobby Boermans, director of Netflix’s latest thriller iHostage, resides close to the site and recalls that extraordinary night. “Fortunately, hostage situations such as this are infrequent in the Netherlands,” he shares with TIME. “That’s what made this event peculiar. A man, demanding 200 million in cryptocurrency, decided to take a hostage during daylight hours on one of Amsterdam’s bustling squares.

After wrapping up filming for Netflix’s suspenseful series titled “The Golden Hour”, set in a fictional terror attack scenario in Amsterdam, Boermans received a message from his neighbor about an ongoing crisis. He drove past the area shortly after and was startled by the tranquility that prevailed following the commotion, noticing only the bullet holes in the windows as remnants of the chaos. The incongruity of the serene calm after the storm left him pondering: what had occurred during those five harrowing hours? It’s remarkable that all hostages managed to make it through alive. Moreover, there’s a profound symbolism in the location itself—a renowned company like Apple, characterized by its clean and tranquil spaces. A symbol of elegance and calmness… it turned into the setting for an unspeakable horror, both inside and out.

The unanswered queries sparked the creation of iHostage, set for release on April 18 and based on actual events from three winters past. Here’s a rundown of the hostage crisis that sent shockwaves through the Netherlands—and how it concluded.

A gunman takes hostages inside the Apple Store

Approximately at 5:30 in the evening, a man armed with weapons and wearing camouflage clothing walked into the store and seized a 44-year-old Bulgarian man as a hostage while other customers tried to conceal themselves. Those on higher floors of the building, which houses the Apple Store on its ground level, were also unable to leave due to the situation.

Law enforcement officers arrived on the scene within ten minutes, only to encounter gunfire – at least four rounds were discharged. Due to suspicions that the suspect was in possession of explosives, authorities swiftly sealed off the area. A multitude of special forces and ambulances converged upon the location, with workers from nearby establishments instructed to take cover immediately. Throughout the following few hours, police managed to evacuate approximately seventy individuals from the building, including those who had sought refuge within a store.

In the movie, Boermans decided to meticulously adhere to the sequence of events that night, while incorporating some artistic freedom. “During the scriptwriting process, we deliberately zeroed in on the night of the hostage crisis. Time compression is inevitable in any film, but the significant moments you see on screen are largely based on real occurrences. We altered dialogues and assigned fictitious names to all characters to protect their identities. In truth, numerous individuals were involved in the standoff, but we concentrated on five primary characters—each with a distinct background, providing diverse viewpoints,” he clarifies.

The demands

At the initial stage of the confrontation, the armed individual reached out to authorities, asking for approximately 200 million euros in digital currency (equivalent to over 226 million US dollars at the time), as well as a secure exit route. The reasons behind his actions remained undisclosed.

Additionally, he shared self-portraits and images with the local media during that event. These soon became viral on various social media platforms and news channels, accompanied by footage capturing the ongoing situation.

How police caught the gunman—and the ensuing fallout

At ten thirty in the evening, following extended talks, the armed individual requested some water. The police then utilized a robot to bring a bottle. As the captive moved towards the shop’s entrance to get it, he took advantage of the situation to escape and dashed outdoors.

In that instant, the pursuer (the gunman) was being chased. Simultaneously, a swift police car rushed forward and collided with the suspect. As a result, he lost consciousness and images of him sprawled on the ground rapidly spread across various social media platforms.

Later that evening, police verified that the individual had managed to survive and was transported to a hospital. There were no explosives found on him. However, officials reported the following day that he had succumbed to his wounds and passed away.

As a concerned citizen, I found myself deeply engaged in the heated discussions that swept across the Netherlands following the hostage incident. The way the police chose to resolve the situation, by driving a vehicle towards the gunman, became the center of debate due to its unorthodox nature. It was an unprecedented display of force, a split-second decision made by one of our special forces operators in a tense moment. A video capturing the climax quickly went viral, sparking nationwide debates. While some praised the action, others expressed reservations about the way it was handled. Boermans succinctly summed up this division in opinions.

In my perspective as a movie reviewer, the law enforcement authorities scrutinized the actions of the officer who allegedly hit a suspect, ultimately deciding against pressing any charges. Subsequently, the Public Prosecution Service declared that the officer’s conduct was justified and he would evade criminal indictments. At the time, neither the identity nor the status of the man held captive were disclosed.

A troubled past

Ultimately, it was discovered that the person responsible for the incident resided in Amsterdam and had a prior criminal history. In the course of the event, he was found with both a handgun and an automatic weapon. As reported by the Dutch newspaper Het Parool, which is based in Amsterdam, this individual was identified as Abdel Rahman Akkad – a name that was familiar to social services. Lawyer Jan-Kees van den Brink, who had previously represented Akkad on various legal matters, spoke to the newspaper about his death, acting on behalf of Akkad’s mother who hired him after the hostage situation.

In the past, Akkad has had multiple run-ins with the law, one of which involved illegal possession of firearms. He was also handed a 60-hour community service requirement, a month of probation, and a three-year protective order due to harassing his former partner, according to news reports.

Boermans expresses his wish for this film to initiate a crucial conversation about the growing number of mentally ill individuals residing on the streets. He notes that ordinary people, struggling with financial hardships or mental health issues, are frequently being neglected by our public health services. These are individuals who might have received help earlier and could have avoided such desperate acts. It’s deeply saddening, and he hopes that our governments will prioritize more attention, effort, and funding towards enhancing our public health systems.

In addition to interviewing staff members and patrons at Apple Stores, police negotiators, and individuals involved in managing the situation, the director of iHostage also engaged with various parties. His aspiration is for the movie to highlight the remarkable resilience that arises during crises, as well as our ability to support one another in difficult times. Simultaneously, he aims for the film to offer an engaging and suspenseful narrative, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats while also tugging at their heartstrings. He desires the audience to feel both the drama and the compassion. In the end, it’s left up to the viewer to determine whom they support and how they perceive the portrayed violence.

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2025-04-18 15:09

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