The body of a Syrian woman found in a forest in Almere – and the police are chasing the fleeing suspect
A body was found in a forest area in Almere on Thursday, believed to belong to a 24-year-old Syrian woman who had been missing for a week. Police say there is strong evidence suggesting she was the victim of a homicide. The main suspect, 34-year-old Omar Alhamd of Syrian descent, is still at large. The woman was last seen on August 7 entering his car voluntarily near the Albert Heijn supermarket on Olivier van Noorstraat. Authorities have not disclosed the nature of their relationship but have quickly expressed concerns for her safety.
The horrific crime was discovered around noon when a passerby found the body while walking in the forest, and immediately reported it to the police. A large number of officers and investigators arrived at the scene, set up a command post in the parking lot, and closed the entrance to Homeruspad. Forensic teams conducted a thorough examination of the crime scene before the police informed the media hours later.
Although the identity of the body has not been officially confirmed yet, the police say that the likelihood of it being the missing woman is 'very high'. They also confirmed the presence of 'strong indications' that her death was the result of a homicide. Omar Al-Hamd has already been identified as a suspect in her disappearance, and investigators confirm that they have no other suspects at this stage.
The police described the suspect as large-built, with short dark hair, light to olive skin, and driving a gray Peugeot 307SW with Dutch license plate 36-LH-RN. Authorities urged the public to be cautious and report any sightings of the suspect or the vehicle. Investigators also warned that he may be driving a different car now.
It has been revealed that a man with the same name and year of birth as Omar Al-Hamd has been issued a two-year entry ban to the Netherlands by the Ministry of Justice and Security in March 2024. Authorities have not confirmed whether the suspect in this case is the same person mentioned in those records. The police continue to follow several leads and urge anyone with information to contact them immediately.