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Forbes
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Is Netflix's ‘iHostage' Based On A True Story? Inside The Real Apple Store Hostage Crisis
"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 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 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.
Newsweek
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
How Netflix's iHostage Movie Differs from Real-Life Incident at Amersterdam Apple Store
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Dutch thriller iHostage, which premiered globally on Netflix on April 18, has rapidly climbed the platform's trending lists across multiple countries. Inspired by a real-life 2022 hostage crisis in Amsterdam, the film reenacts the tense standoff that unfolded at an Apple Store in the city's bustling Leidseplein Square. Directed by Bobby Boermans and written by Simon de Waal, iHostage was produced with significant input from sources close to the original case. The creators aimed to reflect the facts of the incident while changing names and dramatizing certain sequences. The film is performed in Dutch with English subtitles and has gained widespread attention for its realistic tone and gripping tension. Why It Matters iHostage debuted on April 18 and quickly broke into Netflix's Top 10 in several countries. The film's popularity has reignited public interest in the 2022 hostage event that briefly gripped the Netherlands and drew international attention for its dramatic conclusion. Netflix's Tudum site described the film as a "psychological thriller" where "a tech store becomes the backdrop for a harrowing hostage situation," with events unfolding largely from the perspective of the hostages. Police special intervention units and rescue workers are seen as the injured hostage taker is carried into an ambulance in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, where the armed person was holed up in the... Police special intervention units and rescue workers are seen as the injured hostage taker is carried into an ambulance in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, where the armed person was holed up in the Apple Store with at least one hostage in an hours-long standoff with scores of police massed outside. More Peter Dejong/AP Photos Is iHostage Based on a True Story? Yes. The real incident took place on February 22, 2022, when a 27-year-old man armed with an automatic weapon entered an Apple Store and took a Bulgarian tourist hostage. He demanded €200 million, or $227 million U.S. dollars, in cryptocurrency and safe passage, holding the victim for over five hours. Four other individuals hid in a storage closet throughout the ordeal. As The Indian Express reported, the standoff ended dramatically when the hostage made a run for safety and the suspect was struck by a police vehicle. He later died from his injuries, People reported. The story captured national attention in the Netherlands, where such incidents are rare, and now reaches a broader audience through its dramatized depiction on Netflix. What is True in Netflix's iHostage Movie? The movie iHostage remains largely faithful to the real 2022 Apple Store hostage crisis in Amsterdam, retaining core elements like the setting, the suspect's ransom demand in cryptocurrency, the duration of the standoff, and the resolution involving police intervention after the hostage fled. Accurate too is the presence of hidden hostages in a supply closet. What's dramatized includes character names, personal backstories, emotional interactions between hostages, and stylized negotiation scenes. While the film mirrors the timeline and tension, it introduces fictionalized dialogue and relationships to enhance psychological drama, diverging from the real event's more transactional and abrupt dynamics. "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." Who is Abdel Rahman Akkad? The real-life suspect behind the Apple Store hostage crisis was identified by Dutch authorities as Abdel Rahman A., later publicly named in media reports as Abdel Rahman Akkad. He was a 27-year-old Dutch citizen with a criminal record, including a prior conviction for illegal firearm possession, according to Entertainment Weekly. Beyond his demand for cryptocurrency, Akkad's motivations remain unclear. A closing card in iHostage notes that the suspect's intent was never fully explained, according to Netflix's English subtitles. What People Are Saying Director Bobby Boermans told TIME: "Fortunately, 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." What's Next With its success on streaming charts, iHostage adds to Netflix's expanding roster of international thrillers inspired by headline-making events. The platform has not indicated whether sequels or similar Dutch-language adaptations are planned.
