A passerby reported on Sunday morning, December 8, around 08:00 that a vehicle was on fire in a parking lot on the Rijksstraatweg in Delfgauw. In the burning car, a white Mercedes Citan, a severely injured man was found. Despite the efforts of emergency services, the victim died at the scene from his injuries.

The victim turned out to be 45-year-old Atilla. He left his entire existence behind in Turkey over two years ago and came to the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, he ended up in an asylum seekers center in Ter Apel and tried to build a new life while waiting for his own place. He worked as a package deliverer and drove a delivery van for that reason.

The text continues below the photo of the burned delivery van. 

Crime

The police immediately launched a large investigation by a Team Large Scale Investigation (TGO) after the incident, and the investigation is still ongoing. Various scenarios have been examined during the investigation, and the police now assume a crime has occurred.

From the investigation, it has emerged that Atilla was in Assen on the evening prior to the incident, Saturday evening, December 7, 2024, around 22:00 and bought something at KFC at the Marconiplein in Rotterdam around 00:30. He then refueled at pump 2 of the Ruyven gas station on the Rijksstraatweg around 01:00. Here he paid in the store before heading to the parking lot.

Mens Meeting Place

The parking lot where the victim was found is located on the Rijksstraatweg in Delfgauw. This is just behind the Ruyven gas station along the A13, heading from Rotterdam to The Hague.

The parking lot is generally a fairly busy parking lot known to be a mens meeting place. The victim was active on dating platforms such as Grindr, Badoo, Hornet, and Bullchat and was known there under his alter ego Arya Stark.

The text continues below the image of the location where Atilla lost his life.

All Information is Welcome

The police are looking for more information about the victims life, the period leading up to his death, and the circumstances surrounding the parking lot before, during, and after the incident. Any information is welcome and can help solve this case. It may be that people had contact with the victim before the incident (early that morning, the night before, or earlier) or had seen him more often. Perhaps people know more about the life he led, who he had contact with, and whether he had any problems. It may also be that people were in the vicinity of the parking lot before, during, or after the incident and saw something unusual. For example, because they refueled at the gas station next to the crime scene, went to the nearby casino, or bought something to eat at one of the nearby restaurants.

All this kind of information, even if it has nothing to do with the incident, can help in the investigation. Therefore, we urge anyone with any information to report it to us.

Contact the Police

Do you have information that may be important in this investigation and have not shared it yet? Please contact the police via the investigation tip line (0800-6070). If you want to speak confidentially with the police, you can also contact the National Intelligence Team (088-6617734). This team can then refer you to the Special Witness Team (TBG) or the Criminal Intelligence Team (TCI). These teams will ask for your name, place of residence, date of birth, and phone number, but may shield the identity of their sources. The teams do not share this information.

Report Crime Anonymously

Due to the sensitivity surrounding the location, known as a mens meeting place, there is a possibility that you have more information but have not shared it with the police yet. For example, because you are afraid of losing your anonymity. Therefore, the police emphasize again that any information you have can also be shared completely anonymously. This can be done via TNI, but also via Report Crime Anonymously (0800-7000). People who report via this way do not have to worry about losing their anonymity when sharing information.

Pink in Blue

Because the parking lot is a busy mens meeting place and this incident can have a significant impact on the LGBTQ+ community, our police network Pink in Blue is closely involved. This network is available 24/7 for people from the LGBTQ+ community, for example, if they have questions or concerns following this incident. Pink in Blue is available 24/7 at 088-1691234.

Bulk SMS

If you received an SMS from the police on April 8, 2025, the police need your help in this investigation. The police have received permission from the Public Prosecution Service to determine which phone numbers were connected to the mast near the parking lot on the Rijksstraatweg in Delfgauw that were active on Sunday, December 8, around 07:00. It may be that you were there at that time or drove by. You may have seen something unusual that could be important for the investigation. Any information, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, can help us.