Utrecht wheelchair victim set ablaze, two suspects face charges

A 69‑year‑old man in a wheelchair was severely burned in Utrecht after attackers poured a bottle of spirit onto his neck and ignited a folded paper. The assault, which occurred on 14 April near the Smaragdplein supermarket, caused third‑degree burns over more than 20 percent of his body.

Two men, identified as Jan G., 55, and Andrzej K., 37, are accused of the attack. Both were absent from the first preparatory court hearing in Utrecht, where the judge described the case as “severe and tragic” and noted the victim was in “life‑threatening” condition. The suspects are being held at the Pieter Baan Centre for observation, with the next hearing scheduled for 13 October. The victim was taken to a burn centre and is now recovering at home under his lawyer’s supervision.