Europol highlights Belgium’s most wanted fugitive in new Europe-wide campaign

Europol has launched a new campaign to help track down some of Europe’s most wanted criminals. The campaign focuses on fugitives who have already been sentenced to at least five years in prison but are still on the run.

For Belgium, authorities are highlighting Wilhelmus ‘Wim’ Beckmann, a Dutch national convicted of murder and arson.

Beckmann was sentenced in 2024 to 29 years in prison by the Antwerp Assize Court for killing his girlfriend, 27-year-old Samira Bekkar, at his villa in Merksplas in 2008. Prosecutors said he shot her twice in the head before setting the house on fire to make the crime look like a violent robbery.

Psychiatric reports described Beckmann as highly intelligent but narcissistic, with an inflated self-image. He had also previously been convicted five times for offences including weapons law violations, fraud and drug possession.

The campaign involves police authorities from 11 European countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Poland. The featured fugitives were convicted of crimes such as murder, drug trafficking, robbery and extortion.

Europol said fugitives often avoid capture by moving between countries and blending into everyday life. The campaign aims to reduce that anonymity by asking the public to check profiles on the EU Most Wanted website and share any useful information anonymously.

The initiative is supported by the European Network of Fugitive Active Search Teams (ENFAST) and aims to strengthen cross-border police cooperation across Europe.

^{A fire truck in front of the house of Wim Beckmann in Merksplas © BELGA PHOTO KRISTOF VAN ACCOM}