Prosecutors: Missing Amsterdam woman Hajar killed the day she sent “Help me” message

The 29-year-old Amsterdam woman who was reported missing soon after sending a disturbing plea for help likely died a minimum of 45 minutes later, prosecutors confirmed on Friday. Abdi A., 23, was arrested in connection Hajar’s murder a few days after her body was found in a suitcase along the bank of the Amstel River. He was initially taken into custody after an attack on his foster father in Koggenland, Noord-Holland, which led to further allegations of attempted murder in that case.

“The man suspected of killing Hajar, and attempting to kill a man in Noord-Holland was brought before the examining magistrate today,” the District Court of Amsterdam confirmed on Friday. “The individual has been remanded into custody, and must remain detained for another 14 days.”

At around 11:15 a.m. on the day of her disappearance, Hajar sent a text message to a relative, stating, “Help me. Now. He is killing me.” Despite the concern this caused within her family, the police declined to treat the case with any urgency until the following day, claiming she needed to be missing for at least 24 hours before they could investigate.

Hajar likely died at least 45 minutes after the message was sent, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) confirmed on Friday. “The police investigation has since established that Hajar was killed on Sunday, October 4, the first day of her disappearance, in the early afternoon,” the OM stated.

The office confirmed that the current charges A. is facing are for either the murder or manslaughter of the 29-year-old woman, and for dumping her body. He will also face allegations of attempted murder or manslaughter for the attack on the foster father, and for “threatening a woman in the municipality of Koggenland,” the OM said.

Originally from Somalia, A. has lived legally in the Netherlands since the age of six. He does not currently have a fixed residence, authorities confirmed this week.

Hajar was last seen on Oct. 4 biking with an unknown man from the RAI convention center towards the Buitenveldert neighborhood. Police later identified the man as the suspect. At the time, the footage did not show an obviously threatening interaction, so he was initially treated as a witness.

A relative contacted police at around 8:15 p.m. on the day after the family heard nothing further from Hajar following the disturbing messages. They said she had previously left for extended periods but had always returned. She had reportedly left with a suitcase. Police initially classified the disappearance as non-urgent.

Police upgraded the missing case to urgent on Monday evening because Hajar had still not contacted her family and their concern had increased. Investigators used several methods to try to locate her, including tracing her phone. This led them to investigate a building in Buitenveldert overnight, but they did not find Hajar or her phone there.

Police appealed to the public for help the next day, and Hajar's body was found three days later, on Friday, October 16.

A. was arrested following an incident that occurred four days after the victim's body was found. The incident happened at the home of his former foster family on Noord-Spierdijkerweg in Spierdijk, part of the municipality of Koggenland. According to accounts from neighbours, A. arrived at the property and a confrontation followed.

Noord-Holland police received a report of an ongoing violent incident at the property. Officers found an injured man and arrested A. at the scene. The victim was taken to hospital by ambulance. According to neighbors, A. first threw a stone through a window before attacking the older man with a hammer, striking him on the head.

A. will likely face a formal arraignment hearing at a district court on or before November 6. A panel of three judges can then extend his jailing by successive periods of up to 90 days until the case is brought to trial. During this time, he can be ordered to undergo a mental evaluation, forensic psychiatric examination, and further questioning.

The suspect was ordered to remain in restricted custody, and was only authorized to maintain contact with his legal representation. Investigators and the OM typically refrain from releasing more details about a criminal case while the suspect is in restricted custody.