Amsterdam: Nourreddine Amrani

The Nieuw-West district—one of the poorest areas in Amsterdam—has been struck by a series of explosions and persistent acts of violence.
Last Thursday, local authorities organized a meeting with residents to hear their concerns. The gathering took place in a street, centered around a mobile coffee van, and was attended by district official Soufiane Mbarki—who is of Moroccan descent—representing Mayor Femke Halsema. Addressing the residents, Mbarki emphasized that every effort is being made to prevent further violence and put an end to the explosions, which he described as "unacceptable."
A small number of residents attended the event, which was also joined by various municipal staff, youth sector representatives, and members of the security services.
Those present expressed deep anxiety regarding the ongoing explosions in the Osdorp neighborhood. They spoke of the fear gripping the community, particularly following an incident where a building was rocked by an explosion, leaving a young man with life-altering injuries—specifically the loss of his limbs.
Well-informed sources within the district point to a conflict between two groups of youths: one from the Slotermeer area, known as "BVL," and another from Osdorp, known as "OSD" (a reference to the Osdorp district). This intense rivalry and competition frequently culminate in the bombing of homes across both neighborhoods. Given the intensity of the conflict, official Soufiane Lembarki called for a definitive end to these disputes, warning that they could lead to innocent casualties—an outcome he is determined to prevent.
During the meeting, a woman expressed her fear for the future, noting with deep sadness that some residents are now considering leaving the neighborhood.
Soufiane Lembarki urged everyone to embrace a spirit of social solidarity and to work toward fostering brotherhood among all community members.
As a measure to counter future acts of violence, the municipality has installed surveillance cameras to monitor activity.
Following a series of ongoing incidents, the municipality announced the installation of additional surveillance cameras at five locations in Nieuw-West. Furthermore, extra police officers, youth outreach workers, and monitors have been deployed. The municipality reports that it is currently monitoring thirty young people suspected of involvement in the explosions and public disturbances; these individuals—along with their parents—will be visited at their homes for discussions.