Police say Hajar's disappearance was first judged not urgent

Police say Hajar's family reported her missing around 20:15 on Sunday 4 October, and officers first judged the case not urgent. The next evening it was made urgent. Her body was found on 16 October, and a 23-year-old suspect has been arrested for her death.

Police shared the details on 22 October because of many questions about the case.

What happened

The family was worried because Hajar had sent worrying messages to an acquaintance that morning. According to police, she had often been away for long periods but always came back. This time she left with a suitcase. When the family heard nothing more, they called police in the evening.

Police assessed the case as not urgent, based on the facts known at the time. On Monday evening 5 October they made it urgent, as there was still no contact with Hajar and the family's concern had grown. The family had not yet given permission to publish her photo.

That evening and night police used various investigative methods, including locating her phone. This led to a search of a building in Buitenveldert, an Amsterdam district. Neither Hajar nor her phone was found there.

When a case is urgent

About 40,000 people go missing in the Netherlands each year, police say, around 2,800 of them in Amsterdam last year. Police classed 646 cases as urgent in 2025. About 70% of cases are resolved within 24 hours because the person returns or is found.

A case is urgent when it may involve a life-threatening situation, police say, for example a person with dementia who needs medication, or a possible crime. A police officer with special legal powers, a hulpofficier van justitie, decides, based on facts and circumstances such as the missing person's behaviour and personal situation and what the person reporting says.