On October 27, 2005, a fire broke out in the detention center at Schiphol-Oost. The cell complex served as a residence for illegal detainees. Eleven illegal detainees died in the fire. Another fifteen people, including several guards, were seriously injured. There is still a lot of discussion about the origin of the fire. The fire started in the K wing, where a total of 43 detainees were staying. At 11:55 p.m. on October 26, the fire alarm went off in cell 11. One detainee stayed in this group. Three detainees tried to escape after the fire. They were found and arrested within a few minutes thanks to helicopters.
Victims
The number of victims was determined at eleven on the afternoon of October 27, while during the night it was determined that there would be no more than five. The deceased:
- Robert Jules Arah (34 years old, male, Suriname) (known in the Netherlands under four assumed names)
- Naiva Apensa (43 years old, male, Suriname)
- Mehmet Ava (40 years old, male, Turkey, Kurd)
- Kemal Sahin (51 years old, male, Turkey, Kurd)
- Vitaliy Khvylovyy (30 years old, male, Ukraine) (real name: Taras Bilyk)
- Oksana Nynych (29 years old, female, Ukraine)
- Gheorge Sas (21 years old, male, Romania)
- Dato Khidirich Kasolev (20 years old, male, Georgia)
- Vladislav Leniev Petrov (31 years old, male, Bulgaria) (also in possession of a Portuguese passport)
- Lofti Al Swaee Al Swaiai (32 years old, male, Libya)
- Maribel Martinez Rodriguez (25 years old, female, Dominican Republic)
Research
After the fire, an investigation into the tragedy was immediately launched. The media expressed a lot of criticism about the known problems with the security situation in the complex. For example, the following statements were made a few days before the fire:
,A prefab building, made of plastic materials and corridors that are too narrow,
,Safety of detainees seems to be subordinate to the strict deportation policy,
,Quickly constructed,
The conclusion of the investigation was devastating. Pieter van Vollenhoven led the investigation on behalf of the Dutch Safety Board. The following conclusions emerged:
- The three authorities (municipality of Haarlemmermeer, Government Buildings Agency and Judicial Intelligence Service) have paid too little attention to safety.
- The construction of the complex was in violation of the building code. So a permit should never have been granted
- The emergency response team was not sufficiently trained and there was no coordination with emergency services
- Wings J and K of the complex did not have a valid permit
- The municipality of Haarlemmermeer has shown too little responsibility as a permit issuer and enforcer.
explanations
One of the detainees came forward to NOS Journaal to tell his story. According to him, there was no staff who knew what procedure needed to be initiated. The guards also did not believe that a fire had broken out until the alarm went off.
Commemoration
A memorial meeting was held at Schiphol on November 8, 2005. A year later, on October 26, 2006, all survivors gathered to commemorate the tragedy. Ahmed Isa Al Jabali was not present. He was suspected of deliberate arson.
Political consequence
Minister Donner and Dekker were responsible for the failure of government authorities regarding the Schiphol fire. Therefore, they both resigned from their positions and resigned on September 21, 2006. The mayor of the municipality of Haarlemmermeer also resigned from his position on September 21.
Criminal prosecution
Ahmed Isa Al Jabali was arrested on November 7, 2005 and later convicted of arson resulting in the death of eleven people. He was given a three-year prison sentence. However, in 2007 a new survey was conducted. This investigation showed that the fire did not start in cell 11 at all, but in the shell space above cell 11. On March 1, 2013, the court of appeal delivered its judgment in the case referred to by the Supreme Court. Ahmed Isa Al Jabali was acquitted of deliberate arson and became a victim instead of a perpetrator.
Damages
All forty survivors received 1,750 euros in compensation. Sixteen of these survivors received an additional 10,000. They had suffered serious psychological injuries. A number of the survivors have still received a residence permit.
Demolition
The cell complex is no longer used. A new cell complex has been built at Schiphol Northwest that meets all safety requirements. The ditch of the old complex will be completed in the spring of 2013.