Known Dutch investigative reporter seriously injured

Dutch authorities announced that three suspects, including the possible author, have been arrested, but did not provide further details about the event.

“He was seriously injured and is fighting for his life”, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said at a press conference. “He's a national hero for all of us. A rare, courageous journalist who tirelessly sought justice”.

Journalist De Vries won the international Emmy award in 2008 for his work in investigating the disappearance of American teenager Natalee Holloway in Aruba in 2005.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte called the attack <x0ndroning and unintelligible. It was an attack on a bold journalist and also an attack on the free press that is so essential to our democracy. We are praying that he survives”, he said.

Dutch broadcaster RTL said Peter R. de Vries had just left his studios in downtown Amsterdam when he was shot in the head.

Journalist De Vries, 64, is famous in the Netherlands, as frequent commentators of television programs and crime expert reporter, with sources both in the forces of rule of law and in the underworld.

He is known in the Netherlands for his countless investigative work, especially after the kidnapping in 1983 of beer tycoon Freddy Heineken.

De Vries was threatened by the crime world in the past in connection with several cases.

In 2013, Willem Holleder, the kidnapper of Mr. Heineken, was convicted of threats to journalist De Vries. Holder is currently serving a life sentence for involvement in five murders.

Tuesday's event prompted the large-scale response of organisations to protect journalists. The Committee for Journalists' Protection called on Dutch authorities to investigate rapidly and deeply the attack on journalist Peter R. de Vries, determine whether he was targeted for his work and ensure that the assailant and masterminds of the attack face justice”.