The Dutch crime thriller iHostage intensifies the real-life horror experienced at an Apple Store in Amsterdam. The story unfolds as the police, along with the audience, delve into the psyche of Ammar Ajar (portrayed by Soufine Moussouli) while trying to ensure the safe escape of Ilian (played by Admir Sehovic) and other captives. Unbeknownst to both Ammar and Ilian, four additional individuals are concealed within a closet, amplifying the stakes of the situation.
As the drama unfolds, the Amsterdam police engage negotiators and explosives specialists to handle a potential catastrophe, as Ammar claims to be armed with an explosive device. Their foremost objective is to rescue Ilian and guarantee the safety of those who have escaped to a higher cafeteria level, while managing a fragile situation with Ammar. Amidst the tension, Ilian’s attempts to communicate with Ammar play a crucial role in averting immediate danger, ultimately leading to a well-thought-out escape that also aids the hidden victims in the closet.
What Did Ammar Really Want In iHostage?
Ammar’s Specific Demands
The film depicts Ammar Ajar entering the Apple Store in Leidseplein, Amsterdam, armed and threatening customers. While some flee to safety, others hide within an employee closet, leaving Ilian as the sole individual taken hostage. To facilitate his escape, Ammar connects with the Amsterdam police, insisting on a negotiator, leading them to deploy a team headed by Lynn (Loes Haverkort). Establishing rapport with Ammar proves challenging for Lynn.
Ammar’s intention becomes clear as he expresses a desire to leave the store with Ilian, promising his eventual release only once he’s distanced himself from the police. He demands a staggering sum of 200 million euros in cryptocurrency alongside a secure getaway. Despite Lynn’s persistence in uncovering Ammar’s motivations, he remains elusive, indicating a deep-seated feeling of betrayal by Amsterdam’s legal system without providing specifics.
While the film touches upon Ammar’s troubling background, including a criminal history and mental health struggles, it refrains from giving extensive details. Ultimately, the police can neither meet his cryptocurrency demand nor provide an escape vehicle; instead, their focus remains on a safe resolution for Ilian and the others while reassuring the public that the claimed explosives are not real.
How Ilian Escapes At The End Of iHostage
Ilian Seizes His Opportunity
In a twist of fate, Ilian finds himself thrust into chaos when he visits the Apple Store after misplacing his AirPods. Amid the ordeal, he strives to maintain composure, engaging Ammar in conversation to deter any violent intentions. However, Ammar’s unpredictability shifts the balance of power; he vacillates between moments of leniency and aggressive threats.
Ilian cleverly persuades Ammar to request water, explaining his inability to consume energy drinks due to a pre-existing heart condition. This moment shifts the dynamic, leading to a significant breakthrough.
Ilian ultimately reaches a critically tense moment when he confronts Ammar’s demand for a limousine, expressing his feelings in Bulgarian. His frustration resonates, prompting Ammar to request water. The police, leveraging technology, send water bottles to the store with a robot, but Ammar forces Ilian to collect them with his hands tied behind his back. This presents a pivotal moment for Ilian.
Recognizing his fleeting opportunity, when Ammar lowers his weapon to pick up the bottles, Ilian bolts for safety across the street, where police await him. The shock of his new reality hits after the ordeal as he’s taken back to his hotel the next morning. Utilizing his new AirPods, a poignant moment unfolds as Ilian likely reaches out to his wife, grappling with the trauma of his experience.
What Happens To Ammar At The End Of iHostage
Ammar’s Fate Takes an Unexpected Turn
As Ilian makes a daring escape, Ammar instinctively chases after him, abandoning his weapon. Yet, his pursuit is futile. The police swiftly intervene, with one officer, Winston (Louis Talpe), driving into Ammar, leaving him critically injured.
Uncertain about the legitimacy of the explosives, the authorities delay further actions, waiting to assess Ammar’s condition. Once they ascertain that he isn’t truly carrying any explosives, Ammar is transported to a hospital, where he ultimately succumbs to his injuries the following day.
How Mingus & The Rest Of The Hostages Escape In iHostage
Mingus Plays a Pivotal Role in Rescuing Hostages
During the chaos, Apple Store employee Mingus (Emmanuel Ohene Boafo) takes initiative by escorting his customer, Lucas (Robin Boissevain), along with Lucas’s mother, Soof (Fockeline Ouwerkerk), and her daughter, Bente (Roosmarijn van der Hoek), into an employee closet for safety. His employee card secures the door, ensuring Ammar remains unaware of their presence.
Mingus becomes integral in coordinating the rescue of individuals hiding in the cafeteria, effectively communicating with law enforcement about how to proceed without alerting Ammar.
Through Bente’s cellphone, Mingus contacts the police and follows instructions on how to remain safe, including signaling when to duck to avoid injury. Furthermore, they are given a safe word, “iHostage,” indicating the right moment to emerge from hiding.
After Ammar is taken to the hospital, the police inform Mingus they can safely exit the closet. Upon stepping out, he is greeted with gratitude from the officer who guided him, receiving praise for his bravery in protecting Lucas, Soof, and Bente. An emotional breakdown ensues as Mingus, finally safe and back in control of his life, realizes the gravity of their survival.
True Events Behind iHostage: The Apple Store Incident
The Amsterdam Apple Store Incident: A Reality Check
iHostage draws inspiration from the real-life hostage-taking incident at an Apple Store in Amsterdam that occurred on February 22, 2022. Mirroring the film’s storyline, the assailant, Abdel Rahman Akkad, entered the store armed, taking a Bulgarian national as a hostage while many others sought refuge elsewhere (Het Parool, via Time). Akkad’s demands included an outrageous 200 million euros in cryptocurrency alongside safe passage, leaving his true motivations shrouded in mystery. During the standoff, he even sent selfies to local media.
As the police delivered water, using a robot to ensure safety, the Bulgarian man found a moment of bravery and seized his opportunity to escape.
Following the same script as the film, Akkad pursued him but was intercepted by a police vehicle, resulting in critical injuries. Later confirmed to have been without real explosives, Akkad was hospitalized, where he ultimately died the next day.
In the aftermath, controversy arose surrounding the officer who struck Akkad. Despite public outcry, he faced no legal consequences, with authorities deeming his actions justified. iHostage remains largely faithful to the actual events of the Apple Store crisis while incorporating dramatic elements to enrich the narrative.
Sources: Het Parool, Time.