A man rammed a van into the Amsterdam headquarters of one of the Netherlands’ major national newspapers before setting the vehicle alight on Tuesday, an attack that the Dutch Prime Minister called “a slap in the face of a free press and Dutch democracy.”
No one was injured in the pre-dawn attack on the De Telegraaf building.
The newspaper released video of the attack on its website, showing a man ramming a white van into the building twice, before walking out and setting the vehicle on fire. He then moved away and drove off in a waiting car.
It was the second attack on a media outlet in as many weeks after weekly Panorama’s office building was hit last week with an anti-tank weapon. No one was injured and one suspect was detained. Both companies are known for their robust coverage of organised crime.
The European Union condemned the two attacks today.
“We would like to express our full support and sympathy with the Dutch media and journalists and defend the right to report freely,” said EU Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas.