Woman Found Dead in a Suitcase in the Amstel: Somali Man, 23, Arrested After New Attack

She left with a suitcase. Twelve days later a walker found a suitcase in the Amstel – with her body inside.

Amsterdam police say a 23-year-old man was arrested on 20 October in the investigation into the death of 29-year-old Hajar. A relative reported her missing on the evening of Sunday 4 October, and the case was classed as urgent the next day. Her photo was shared with the public on 13 October. On the morning of 16 October, a walker found a suitcase in the water at the Amsteldijk. Inside was Hajar’s body. Police say she was killed, probably shortly after she disappeared.

“Informatie over wat Hajar precies is overkomen en waar, is nog altijd onderdeel van de puzzel die rechercheurs aan het leggen zijn.”

“Information about exactly what happened to Hajar, and where, is still part of the puzzle that detectives are piecing together.”

— Amsterdam police, statement of 20 October 2026

From witness to suspect in a day

Camera footage from the RAI area on 4 October showed Hajar with a man who was then unknown. Because nothing in their contact looked threatening, he was treated as a witness and questioned on the evening of 19 October. By the next morning, further investigation pointed to his likely involvement, and he was placed on the wanted list.

That same morning, police were called to a violent incident at a house in Koggenland, North Holland, where they found an injured man who was taken to hospital. They arrested a 23-year-old there – the same man. The victim and suspect knew each other; Dutch media report the injured man was his foster father. Police say the suspect has Somali nationality, has lived in the Netherlands since 2009, holds a permanent residence permit since 2014 and has no fixed abode. He is held under full restrictions and may only speak to his lawyer.

On X, visegrad24 shared the case widely. Some details circulating online have not been confirmed by police.