Princess forced to flee college apartment after ‘kidnapping threats from drug lord’ accused of shocking murder

Dutch Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia was allegedly forced to move out of her student apartment after a gangster tried to kidnap her.

Fearing for her safety, the 18-year-old, who began studying at the University of Amsterdam this fall, moved back from her Amsterdam dig site to the royal palace in The Hague.

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The heir to the Dutch throne has been under heightened security amid fears that criminal gangs may kidnap or attack her, the royal family announced last month.

It is reported that Prince Catharina-Amalia’s name has emerged during wiretapped conversations between organized armed groups – suggesting she may be at risk of kidnapping or attack.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s name also appeared in underworld communications.

The alleged security threat, which has been investigated for the past six weeks, is said to have come from 44-year-old Ridouan Taghi, a well-known ‘Mocro-Maffia’ figure in Amsterdam who is currently on trial for multiple murders.

The Mocro-Maffia is one of the largest drug trafficking gangs in Europe.

Over the past 12 months, Dutch security services have claimed to have thwarted plans for a violent prison break after Kingpin Taghi allegedly ordered the killing of a key witness and chief prosecutor.

Taghi, who was arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2019, immediately denied the allegations on Wednesday, calling the alleged conspiracy a false and unfounded allegation.

His lawyer Inez Weski said Taghi “strongly” denied the claims, saying the man made it clear he “did not want to hurt Princess Amalia” and “would never harm a child,” according to The National News.

During a state visit to Sweden, Catharina-Amalia’s father, King Willem-Alexander, described her situation as “very difficult”, according to France24.

“It has enormous consequences for her life. It means she doesn’t live in Amsterdam and she can’t really go outside either,” her mother, Queen Maxima, told Dutch newspaper AD.

“The consequences are very difficult for her. No student life for her like other students have… It’s not nice to see your child living like that. She can go to university but that’s it,” Queen Maxima said during the State visit to her husband.

Prime Minister Rutte said he was “very concerned” about the “terrible” situation of Catharina-Amalia.

Meanwhile, the country’s justice and security minister, Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius, tweeted: “I guarantee our security services are working day and night to ensure your safety.”

In September, De Telegraaf reported that security had been tightened amid fears the princess could be targeted by the local ‘mafia’.

The heir to the throne, who has started studying politics, psychology, law and economics, has now finally left her shared flat and moved back to the royal palace of Huis ten Bosch.

“Other princes and princesses have always been able to study. It is very sad that such measures are now necessary,” Edwin Bakker, professor of terrorism and counter-terrorism at Leiden University, told Het Parool newspaper.

“Everything will have been done so that Amalia can simply live in Amsterdam, which she has every right to do, but that is extremely difficult when there is a great threat.”

Bakker added: “What is happening goes beyond crime. It’s so disruptive that it’s socially disruptive, it’s an attack on the democratic legal order.”

Catharina-Amalia is said to have lived with several other students.

Dutch police and intelligence have declined to comment on the security arrangements around the royal household.

King Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand ascended the throne in 2013 when his mother, Queen Beatrix, abdicated.

Princess Catharina-Amalia has two younger sisters, Princess Alexia, 17, and Princess Ariane, 15.

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