The two men arrested in connection with the shooting of crime journalist Peter R de Vries have been named in by the Telegraaf as Delano G and Kamil E, both of whom, the paper says, have had earlier run ins with the police.

Delano G, a 21-year-old from Rotterdam is thought to be the shooter, the paper said. The second man is Kamil E from Maurik in Gelderland, who was the driver of the getaway car.

He is said to live with his highly pregnant wife and children in an ordinary house in the village but may have been arrested last week for making threats. Polish television station TVN42 also claims he is wanted in Poland for theft and robbery.

The two were arrested on the Leidschendam slip road from the A4 motorway after the car they were in was identified using eye witnesses, surveillance footage and the ANPR number plate recognition system, the Telegraaf said.

The investigation into the attack on De Vries is ongoing. The two suspects will appear in court for a remand hearing on Friday.