Is Netflix's ‘iHostage' Based On A True Story? Inside The Real Apple Store Hostage Crisis

Forbes

24-04-2025

"iHostage" on Netflix.
In Netflix's gripping new film iHostage, a Dutch man storms an Apple Store in Amsterdam and demands a ransom of over $200 million in crypto, setting off a tense, hours-long standoff as negotiators race to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
Directed by Bobby Boermans and written by Simon de Waal, the thriller focuses on a Bulgarian man who finds himself in a life-or-death crisis after the gunman takes hostages inside the tech store. 'Through the eyes of the attacker, the hostages, and the first responders, iHostage delivers a tense and emotional tale of courage, survival, and the lasting impact of terror,' the synopsis reads.
Currently, the No. 1 movie on Netflix in the U.S., iHostage is based on the terrifying real hostage crisis that shook Amsterdam in 2022. But how accurately does the film follow what actually happened? Here's what to know while you're watching, including the changes made for the screen and the fate of the gunman.
Nederland, Katwijk, 13 maart 2024 Hostage Studio Apple Store foto: Elmer van der Marel
Yes, iHostage is inspired by a real-life incident that occurred in February 2022, when 27-year-old Abdel Rahman Akkad took a Bulgarian man hostage inside an Apple Store in Leidseplein, Amsterdam.
During the standoff, Akkad called the police, demanding €200 million in cryptocurrency (which was worth over US$226 million at that time) and a safe exit.
While most customers managed to flee the store once the gunman opened fire, four others were trapped inside for hours, hiding in a cupboard, according to the BBC. As he held the 44-year-old Bulgarian man hostage, the assailant sent photos to local news media that appeared to show explosives strapped to his body.
Police quickly arrived at the scene, where the gunman fired at least four shots in their direction. Fearing he was carrying explosives, authorities ordered a shelter-in-place for the surrounding area, per TIME.com.
Boermans, who lives near the Apple Store where the crime took place, told TIME that 'hostage situations like this are scarce' in the Netherlands. "That's what made this incident bizarre. A man, demanding 200 million in cryptocurrency, chose to take a hostage in broad daylight on one of the busiest squares in Amsterdam.'
"iHostage" on Netflix.
After nearly five hours, Rahman Akkad asked for water. Police used a robot to deliver a bottle, and as the hostage walked toward the store entrance to retrieve it, he made a run for it and escaped.
As the gunman chased after the fleeing hostage, a special unit vehicle accelerated and struck him. Though he was taken to a nearby hospital and initially survived, officials later confirmed he died from his injuries the following day.
'I can confirm that the man has died in hospital this evening,' Franklin Wattimena, an official from the public prosecution service, told The Guardian. 'More than that, we cannot say, but the investigation continues.'
However, the way police apprehended the gunman became a point of controversy across the country. 'The hostage incident sparked intense public debate in the Netherlands, mainly because of the unconventional way the police brought the situation to an end—by using a car," Boermans said.
The director continued, "It was a unique and highly decisive act of violence, the result of a split-second decision made by one of the special forces operators. A video of the final moments went viral almost immediately after, and the entire country began discussing it. Some people applauded the action, while others were more hesitant or conflicted about how it was handled.'
In response, Boermans said the "entire country" began discussing it. "Some people applauded the action, while others were more hesitant or conflicted about how it was handled," Boermans told TIME.com.
At the end of the film, it's revealed that, following a four-month investigation, the DSI (Department of Special Investigation) operator was found to have acted lawfully when striking the gunman.
"iHostage" on Netflix.
iHostage closely follows the real 2022 hostage situation that unfolded in Leidseplein, Amsterdam, but the director admitted to taking a few creative liberties. Among them was the decision to use fictional names for all the characters so 'they couldn't be traced back to the individual involved.'
In the film, the man held hostage is named Ilian Petrov; however, he is a fictional character. He is inspired by a real Bulgarian man who was taken hostage that day, but his true identity remains unknown. At the time, Amsterdam police chief Frank Paauw said the man played a 'heroic role by forcing a breakthrough,' according to BBC.
In real life, hundreds of people were involved in the standoff, but Boermans said the film centers on 'five main characters—each from a different background, each offering a unique perspective."
'While working on the script, we consciously focused solely on the night of the hostage situation," Boermans said. 'Of course, you have to condense time in any film, but most of the story beats you see on screen are based on things that actually happened.'
The film's co-creator and writer, Simon de Waal, also works as a detective near where the incident occurred and spoke with sources close to the case to ensure the film was as accurate as possible.
'I was able to speak with people from the police force who were directly involved,' de Waal told Netflix's Tudum. 'I wanted to know if they agreed with how things were portrayed, how events actually unfolded, how things were said … I wanted to stay as close to the truth as possible.''
iHostage is streaming on Netflix. Watch the official trailer below.