Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency, has unveiled its updated list of Europe’s most wanted fugitives, a compilation of 24 dangerous criminals sought for heinous crimes across the continent. These individuals, deemed highly dangerous and advised against being approached by the public, are wanted for offenses ranging from axe murder and contract killings to mafia-related activities and prison escapes. Their stories paint a grim picture of violence and evasion, highlighting the critical need for international cooperation in apprehending these individuals and bringing them to justice.
Among the most wanted is Ali Shebab Ahmed, a 20-year-old fugitive wanted for a killing in Stockholm in June 2023. Details surrounding his alleged crime are scarce, adding an element of mystery to his pursuit. Costel Crinu Andronic, 40, is wanted by Romanian authorities for a brutal 2017 attempted murder where he savagely beat a man in a pub, utilizing fists, feet, and a bottle. Despite receiving an eight-year sentence, Andronic remains at large. Similarly, Engelbert Balogh, 31, faces a 15-year sentence in Hungary for a near-fatal stabbing of a friend in October 2022. Wilhelmus Beckmann, 66, is a Dutch-born criminal convicted in absentia for the 2008 murder of his girlfriend in Belgium, a crime he attempted to conceal by staging a robbery and arson.
The list also features individuals with ties to organized crime. Domenico Bellatoni, 80, a member of the Piromalli mafia clan, has evaded capture for over five decades, wanted for murder and attempted murder, culminating in a life imprisonment sentence. Tomas Bolgovas, 41, is accused of participating in the 2015 contract killing of a 26-year-old in Lithuania, where the victim was shot 12 times. Bolgovas allegedly organized the getaway car, while his accomplices are already serving time. Dominique Delattre, 62, nicknamed “the old lady,” escaped prison in 2000 while serving a 20-year sentence for a violent cash transport robbery in France that left a victim seriously injured.
Further down the list, Abdenour Djabri, 43, is wanted by Polish authorities for the attempted strangulation of a woman in January 2022. Alexander Elberg, a 67-year-old Russian, is wanted for a 1991 murder near Stuttgart, Germany, with a €1,500 reward offered for information leading to his capture. Janos Gal, 42, is wanted for the brutal stabbing of his wife and mother-in-law in September 2024, resulting in his wife’s death. Cristian Yong Granadino, now in his 40s, is wanted for the 2010 murder of his 16-year-old girlfriend, whom he had abused since she was 14. After killing her, he placed her body in a suitcase and disappeared.
The remaining fugitives represent a diverse array of violent offenders. Maris Jankevics, 45, is wanted for the brutal murder of a woman in Latvia, involving repeated blunt force trauma, stabbing, burning, and strangulation. Krystian Kolompar, 30, sporting a distinctive face tattoo, is wanted for robbery and murder in Poland, followed by the theft of money from a safe. Ben Mahfoudh Montassar, 28, is wanted for failing to serve his 10-year sentence for attempted murder and strangulation in Luxembourg. Saidchuseyn Naurbajew, 39, is wanted for a 2015 murder and arson in a home invasion, while his accomplice has already been apprehended.
Abdou Njie, 23, is a member of a notorious criminal organization in Sweden, wanted for a 2022 shooting and considered a high risk for further violence. Karim Ouali, a French air-traffic controller suffering from persecution mania, is wanted for the 2011 axe murder of a colleague. Vincenzo Parisi, 75, is another Italian mobster serving a life sentence for a double murder. Anton Zhivkov Petkovski is wanted for a double homicide in Bulgaria in 2001, including the killing of his accomplice to cover his tracks.
Joze Pirh is wanted for the attempted murder of his ex-partner and her boyfriend in a shooting incident. Leons Rusins, 54, is wanted for repeatedly stabbing his ex-wife in front of their son and her mother. Vladimir Vaclavek, using the alias Salim Halibi, has evaded capture for over two decades for a suspected murder in 2001. Jian Xia, 47, is wanted for the murder of a seven-months pregnant woman in the Netherlands and is suspected to be hiding in Spain under an assumed identity. Finally, Kamil Zyla, 37, is wanted for the brutal stabbing of a victim near a Polish football stadium, inflicting over 50 wounds.
These 24 individuals, each with a violent past and a potential for future harm, represent a significant challenge for law enforcement agencies across Europe. Europol’s most wanted list serves as a crucial tool in facilitating international cooperation and public awareness in the pursuit of these dangerous fugitives, ultimately aiming to bring them to justice and enhance public safety. Their diverse backgrounds and the nature of their alleged crimes underscore the complex and transnational nature of criminal activity, necessitating coordinated efforts across borders to effectively combat such threats. The stories behind these individuals are a stark reminder of the human cost of violence and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable.
