Police investigating the murder of the brother of a key witness who has given the authorities dozens of statements about the ongoing drugs war in Amsterdam confirmed on Friday they have surveillance camera footage of the suspect.

Reduan Bakkali, 41, was shot dead at his marketing company offices in Amsterdam on Thursday by a man who had arranged a job interview with him.

According to the Telegraaf, the police have ‘very sharp’ images of the killer and are considering whether to release them to the general public. In most investigations, releasing photographs is a last resort.

Friends of Bakkali told the AD he kept himself far away from his brother’s criminal activities and his company was doing well. The Parool  says it is likely that Reduan Bekkali declined the protection usually given to family members of key witnesses in criminal cases.

The paper quoted the public prosecution office a saying that ‘talks were held with the family about the risks they ran and the safety measures that could be taken. ‘Reduan Bakkali only wanted a limited amount of protection and that was given to him’, the paper said. It is unknown to what extent Bakkali and his family were protected.

The murder came within a week of the news that Nabil Bakkali was going to become a key witness. Bakkali was put in a witness protection programme in exchange for information on a number of murders related to Moroccan gang warfare.

Before he turned key witness, Bakkali received death threats from two men, named as Ridouan Taghi and Said Razzouki, who he accuses of ordering the deaths of a number people. There are international search warrants out for both men,’ the AD said.