Amsterdam, 6 September 2024
Twenty-two years after the assassination of the charismatic and controversial Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn, his brother, Simon Fortuyn, is calling for a comprehensive investigation into the DNA found on the murder weapon. This renewed demand for justice follows the recent revelation of the ongoing police inquiry into the DNA trace, brought to light by a new documentary on Dutch serial murders.
On the fateful day of 6 May 2002, Pim Fortuyn was gunned down by Volkert van der G. at the Mediapark in Hilversum. The assassination sent shockwaves through the Netherlands and remains a defining moment in the country’s political history. However, the mystery surrounding the origins of the weapon used in the crime has never been fully resolved.
The weapon in question, a gun produced in a factory in Northern Spain, was discovered to have ended up in Belgium in 1992. It then vanished for a decade before reappearing in van der G.’s hands. Despite extensive investigations at the time, it remains unclear who possessed the firearm during those ten years. “The bookkeeping in Belgium seems to have disappeared,” said Sinan Can, the creator of the new documentary.
The renewed interest in the case stems from the discovery of DNA on the firearm that did not belong to van der G. This DNA sample matches that found on a balaclava left behind after a ram raid in Emmen in December 2001. This connection suggests that the weapon may have had other handlers before ending up in the hands of the assassin.
Simon Fortuyn, driven by the need for closure and the pursuit of truth, is advocating for the police to extend their investigation by running the DNA sample through international databases. “With today’s advanced DNA techniques, we may finally be able to tie up some loose ends in this case,” he said in the documentary. “Consider this a cold case. This is a historic murder, and we need to know everything. I want to know who else had that weapon in their hands.”
The call for a more thorough investigation is echoed by Sinan Can, who believes that such an inquiry could dispel lingering conspiracy theories that Volkert van der G. did not act alone. “If the DNA is examined internationally, it could possibly yield new information about the origin of the weapon and the role of any people involved in this shocking murder,” Can stated. “Did the person who previously held the weapon know what Volkert planned to do with it?”
The implications of this new demand are significant. If the DNA sample leads to new suspects or reveals a broader network involved in the assassination, it could rewrite the narrative of one of the Netherlands’ most notorious crimes. The public’s interest in the case remains high, as the assassination of Pim Fortuyn was a pivotal event that reshaped the political landscape of the country.
The Dutch police have not yet commented on the possibility of an expanded international DNA search. However, the fact that they are still investigating the DNA trace suggests that the case remains a priority for law enforcement.
As the country continues to grapple with the legacy of Pim Fortuyn’s assassination, Simon Fortuyn’s demand for a thorough DNA inquiry offers a glimmer of hope for answers that have eluded the public for over two decades. The pursuit of truth and justice, even after such a long time, serves as a testament to the enduring impact of this tragic event on Dutch society.
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