Netflix’s Dutch crime movie iHostage dramatizes the harrowing real experience of the 2022 hostage situation in an Amsterdam Apple Store. iHostage makes use of a talented cast to create fictionalized versions of the real people involved, and, though the film renames some characters to protect the privacy of the real individuals, much of what the movie portrays is accurate to the true story. By iHostage‘s ending, audiences will have a good sense of the very real threats of the situation, as well as what some of the individuals involved may have been feeling at the time.

Given the popularity of the crime thriller genre, it is unsurprising that iHostage has found instant popularity. In fact, iHostage has received some positive reviews that highlight the film’s intensity. The movie never fails to capture just how scary the event must have been. In doing so, iHostage necessarily includes dramatizations and speculations, but overall the film is largely faithful to real events, making its fast past and impressive performances that much more captivating.

Netflix’s iHostage Is Based On The 2022 Amsterdam Apple Store Attack

The Hostage Situation Occurred On February 22, 2022

On February 22, 2022, an armed man entered the Apple Store in Amsterdam’s Leidseplein. The 27-year-old man was named Abdel Rahman Akkad, and he demanded money from the police in exchange for freeing the hostage he was holding at gunpoint. Netflix’s iHostage follows the story of Akkad’s (renamed Ammar Ajar) entrance into the store, his demands, and his ultimate death after failing to successfully negotiate any money. The movie was directed by Bobby Boermans, who lives in Amsterdam and wanted to revisit the intensity of the event through his film.

When speaking with Time about his 2025 film, Boermans noted that “hostage situations like this are scarce in the Netherlands. That’s what made this incident bizarre.” Boermans further stated that after deciding to walk by the store shortly after it happened, he was shocked by the juxtaposition of the bullet holes in the glᴀss and “the surreal calm after the storm.” Clearly, the event stayed with him over the next few years, as his depiction of the events in iHostage thoroughly examines the violence and uncertainty of the Amsterdam hostage situation.

The Real Gunman, Abdel Rahman Akkad, Demanded Millions In Cryptocurrency While Holding Dozens Of People Hostage

Similar To The Netflix Movie The Gunman Wanted Money And Safe Pᴀssage

After entering the Apple Store around 5:30 pm, the gunman, Abdel Rahman Akkad, took a hostage. In the movie, this character becomes Ilian Petrov. The real hostage has remained unnamed for his privacy, but it is known that he was a 44-year-old Bulgarian man. While Akkad was primarily focused on one man, other customers in the Apple Store hid. In addition to the people in the Apple Store itself, Time noted that those on other floors of the building, which were not part of the store, were also stuck, meaning that dozens of people were in harm’s way.

With one hostage at gunpoint and numerous others stuck in the building, Akkad requested a ransom of €200 million in cryptocurrency, perhaps incorrectly ᴀssuming that it would be more difficult to trace. In addition to requesting money in exchange for the hostages, Akkad also requested safe pᴀssage out of Amsterdam. According to the BBC, throughout the event, the gunman also kept in contact with the press by sending pH๏τos to the TV channel AT5, which showed that Akkad seemingly had explosives on him.

Some Hostages Were Able To Sneak Out Of The Building During The Crisis

Dozens Of People Managed To Get Out

Many of the people initially trapped in the Apple Store were able to flee while Akkad attempted to take control of the shop. Just as depicted in the movie, some of those who were unable to get out of the store really did hide in a closet. According to Boermans, he and his writer Simon de Waal, who is also a detective, “had access to a lot of people and information” which allowed them to learn “how the police had maintained contact with the people hiding in the closet” (via Netflix).

In addition to keeping in touch with the people trapped inside, the police worked over the course of hours to evacuate around 70 people (Time). In this, Boermans and de Waal’s inside access to a lot of information about the event helps add a sense of reality and depth to the film. Hearing from those who were really involved and seeing the location firsthand allowed them to create an accurate timeline of how the hostage situation played out and how both the individuals trapped inside the store and the police trying to free them felt.

Akkad Died After Being Hit By A Police Car

His Death Was Very Controversial

One of the most unbelievable parts of iHostage is its ending, which sees Ammar attempt to go after Ilian after the hostage manages to escape but ends up being hit by a police car instead. This detail seems like something added for dramatic effect, but around 10:30 pm, after being in the Apple Store for five hours, Akkad was purposefully hit by a special police unit vehicle. He was injured and rendered unconscious by the impact, but survived and was taken to a hospital before eventually pᴀssing away there.

While all the hostages safely escaped the Apple Store during the 2022 event, the incident actually became very controversial because of the manner of Akkad’s death. According to Time, a video of Akkad lying on the ground went viral and prompted a conversation about whether hitting him with a car was the correct approach. On this matter, Boermans stated, “Some people applauded the action, while others were more hesitant or conflicted,” and it seems possible that his new film may reopen this conversation.

What The Official Investigation Revealed About Akkad’s Plans & Past

He Had A Previous Criminal Record

Just as iHostage outlines, Akkad’s plans and the true reason that he targeted the Apple Store remain somewhat unclear to this day. However, both in the movie and real life, there are some hints about what may have driven him to take a hostage in an attempt to get money. After an investigation into the incident and Akkad’s past, Amsterdam police revealed that he was a resident of the city and had a prior criminal record. In addition to this, iHostage notes that the gunman may have had a history of mental illness that had gone unnoticed.

Following Akkad’s death, officials revealed that he had previously been arrested for weapons possession. Akkad had both a handgun and an automatic gun on the day of his Apple Store takeover (Time). Additionally, an ex-girlfriend had taken out a restraining order against him, and he had also had mandatory community service in the past. While iHostage certainly highlights the heartpounding aspects of the 2022 hostage situation, the real story of Abdel Rahman Akkad is even more complex and saddening.

Source: Time, BBC, Netflix