The Real Story Behind Ammar Ajar in iHostage: Imagine entering a bustling Amsterdam Apple Store to browse the latest gadgets and finding a terrifying hostage situation. The Dutch thriller iHostage, directed by Bobby Boermans and written by him and Simon de Waal, has a chilling premise. The film, released on Netflix in April 2025, explores the February 22, 2022, Apple Store shooting in Leidseplein, Amsterdam, that held dozens of people hostage. The movie captures the raw intensity of the five-hour standoff, blending suspense with the emotional weight of a true story.
Ilian, played by Admir Šehović, is a tourist in Amsterdam who ends up being the main hostage of a dangerous gunman named Ammar Ajar, played by Soufiane Moussouli. Not only does the movie show what the hostage-taker did, but it also shows things from the point of view of police negotiators like Lynn (Loes Haverkort) and other people who are trapped, like Apple Store worker Mingus (Emmanuel Ohene Boafo). Because of this, the story moves quickly, making viewers wonder if everyone will make it out alive. The characters aren’t fully developed, but the way they interact with each other shows what they’re afraid of, how brave they are, and how strong they are.
The movie’s strength is that it tries to be realistic. It stays true to the events that happened in 2022, using details like the gunman’s demands and the police’s tactical response to make the experience vivid and heart-pounding. But a lot of people still want to know: Who is Ammar Ajar (Soufiane Moussoul), and is he based on a real person? Abdel Rahman Akkad’s (the character’s real-life inspiration) life and deeds hold the key to the mystery.
Who Was “Abdel Rahman Akkad”?
Abdel Rahman Akkad, a 27-year-old Amsterdam resident. He made a normal evening in ‘Leidseplein’ into a nightmare on February 22, 2022. Born on January 11, 1995, in Amsterdam, Akkad was a local with Syrian roots through his father. He grew up primarily on Spaarndammerstraat, a street that would later be searched by police in the aftermath of the hostage crisis. By all accounts, Akkad was an ordinary citizen with a complex past, marked by financial struggles, legal troubles, and possible mental health challenges.
Around 5:30 p.m. that terrible day, Akkad walked into the Apple Store wearing camouflage gear and carrying a semiautomatic gun and a handgun. He also wore something that looked like a bomb vest, which he said could blow up the whole building. When he got there, there was chaos right away. While employees and customers tried to get away or hide, a 44-year-old Bulgarian man was caught in the open and became Akkad’s main hostage. About 69 people were still trapped in the building. Four of them were hiding in a closet, and the other 65 were stuck upstairs, out of Akkad’s sight.
Akkad’s demands were staggering: €200 million (about $260 million) in cryptocurrency and a guaranteed safe exit, reportedly in a limousine. He contacted the police directly, firing four shots at arriving officers to underscore his seriousness. He even sent selfies to a local news station of himself with the bomb vest and his hostage, which made the situation even scarier. He held the Bulgarian man at gunpoint for almost five hours while police negotiators worked hard to end the situation without any violence.
A Troubled Past: Akkad’s Life Before the Crisis
We need to look at Akkad’s life before that day to understand why he did what he did. Akkad had been in trouble with the law before. He had a criminal record that included charges for—illegally having weapons. And in May 2021, he faced court for harassing an “ex-girlfriend”. Court documents reveal a disturbing pattern: from July to November 2020, Akkad sent his ex daily messages, many of which were insulting, pornographic, or threatening. She also claimed he once made a throat-slitting gesture to intimidate her, though he was acquitted of that specific charge. His punishment included 60 hours of community service, a month of suspended jail time, and a three-year restraining order.
In addition to legal problems, Akkad had a lot of money problems. In 2018, he started an installation business that didn’t do well and lost all of his money. Reports say he was angry at “the system” while negotiating with police, which could mean he had deep-seated problems. Some people thought that his demand for a huge amount of cryptocurrency was a desperate attempt to get out of debt and support his family. But there was no proof of a bigger reason, like political or ideological goals.
There were also indications of mental health struggles. Sources reported that Akkad had exhibited erratic behavior in the past, leading to multiple hospital visits. While medical records remain private, his interactions with emergency services and his unpredictable actions during the hostage crisis raised questions about his mental state. Even with these hints, no official diagnosis was ever made public. This means that a lot about his motivations is still unknown.
The Standoff and Its Dramatic End
The hostage situation went like a scene from an action movie, with quick decisions and a lot at stake. The Special Intervention Service (DSI) of the Dutch police worked quietly to free the 65 people trapped upstairs through a back exit while Akkad held his hostage. The four people hiding in a closet were not seen and their fear was clear as they waited for help. At the same time, negotiators, possibly an experienced officer named Willem, were having tense conversations with Akkad to try to understand what he wanted and keep him calm.
Around 10:30 p.m., Akkad requested water, and the police used a robot to deliver bottles to the store’s entrance. This moment was very important. At the moment Akkad told the Bulgarian hostage to get the water, the 44-year-old man jumped into the street. Akkad was caught off guard and ran after him on foot, holding his weapons but not firing. DSI officer in a BMW X5 SUV sped up and hit Akkad, knocking him to the ground. This was a brave move. A bystander recorded the impact on video—which added to the movie-like quality of the event.
Fearing the bomb vest, police held Akkad at gunpoint while a robot inspected him for explosives. They discovered that the vest contained plastic explosives, typically used for training by the Ministry of Defense and was not wired to detonate. With the threat neutralized, officers rushed Akkad to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on February 23, 2022. The lawyer, Jan-Kees van den Brink, who has fought many court cases for Akkad, told the newspaper that he was sharing the news on behalf of his mother. The Bulgarian hostage, hailed as a hero by Amsterdam’s police chief, Frank Paauw, was safe, as were the other trapped individuals.
Ammar Ajar: A Fictional Name for a Real Figure
In iHostage, the hostage-taker is named Ammar Ajar, a fictional alias created to protect the privacy of those involved and to allow for some creative liberty. While Ammar’s actions in the film mirror Akkad’s, the character is not a direct replica. The movie focuses on the mental tension between Ammar and Ilian by showing small personal details about both of them that make them seem more real. For example, Ammar’s anger at systemic injustices is similar to how Akkad was said to feel, but the movie doesn’t go into too much detail about his motivations to respect the real-life mystery.
The decision to use a fictional name also aligns with the film’s approach to other characters. The Bulgarian hostage’s name was changed to Ilian at his request and the names of the police negotiators are also changed. This mix of fact and fiction lets iHostage honor the real events while telling an interesting story. Director Bobby Boermans—who lives near Leidseplein—got ideas from the strange silence that followed the crisis. To make sure the film was real, he talked to Apple Store workers, police, and negotiators.
The Aftermath and Legacy
The Apple Store hostage crisis left a lasting impact on Amsterdam. The Bulgarian hostage and four others who hid in the closet were awarded “hero pins” by Mayor Femke Halsema for their courage. The police officer who struck Akkad was investigated but cleared of wrongdoing, with authorities deeming his actions necessary to protect lives. Akkad’s death closed the case, but it left unanswered questions. Raids on his home and his father’s residence yielded no clues about accomplices or deeper motives, and the source of his weapons and fake explosives remains unclear.
The hostages were still traumatized. The Bulgarian man specifically asked the media to take down—his name and footage so that he could get his privacy back. This request was honored in the film. iHostage is both a tribute to how strong they were and a reminder of how unpredictable these kinds of crises can be. Boermans wanted to show not only the thriller parts of the story, but also how people can help each other in tough times. This is a theme that runs through the whole movie.
Ammar Ajar may be a fictional name but his character is firmly rooted in the real-life actions of Abdel Rahman Akkad. The 2022 Apple Store hostage crisis shocked Amsterdam and showed how fragile everyday life is as well as the bravery of those who were caught in the middle. iHostage tells this story to people all over the world by mixing fact and fiction to make a thriller that stays true to the story. Even though no one knows what Akkad was up to, his story and the bravery of those who lived through this film live on.
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