close global

Welcome to GPFans

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

  • NL
  • GB
  • IT
  • ES-MX
  • US
  • GB

Are you a F1 Fan? Follow GP Fans

Edition

NL GB IT ES-MX US

F1 fan arrested at gunpoint by Dutch police after being mistaken for mafia boss

Photo: © LAT Images

F1 fan arrested at gunpoint by Dutch police after being mistaken for mafia boss

'Mark L' has since been released after the case of mistaken identity

Google Make us your Google favorite

A British F1 fan was arrested at gunpoint in the Netherlands last week after being mistaken by police for a Sicilian mafia boss.

The 54-year-old man from Liverpool, who has been named only as 'Mark L' was captured in the Dutch capital The Hague last week after attending the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort the preceding weekend.

Police believed they had caught 59-year-old mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro, who has a European Arrest Warrant issued by Italian authorities over bombings in 1993 which killed 10 and injured almost 100.

F1 fan Mark L was at a restaurant with his son when police led him away blindfolded, according to Dutch broadcaster NOS.

Lawyer Leon van Kleed said: "It's like a bad movie, a nightmare that my client has found himself in.

"Imagine one moment you are having a bite to eat and the next you are sat in a maximum-security Dutch prison."

It was later established Mark L is not the mafia don and he has now been released.

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

F1 boss makes statement on driver linked to join team: 'He's doing very well'

F1 boss makes statement on driver linked to join team: 'He's doing very well'

  • 1 hour ago
Max Verstappen manager fires Red Bull warning: 'He wasn't born to compete in midfield'

Max Verstappen manager fires Red Bull warning: 'He wasn't born to compete in midfield'

  • 2 hours ago
Monaco Grand Prix result STILL in doubt as two drivers issue protest response

Monaco Grand Prix result STILL in doubt as two drivers issue protest response

  • 2 hours ago
Fernando Alonso just dropped the biggest clue yet about his F1 future

Fernando Alonso just dropped the biggest clue yet about his F1 future

  • 3 hours ago
Red Bull boss issues statement on Max Verstappen F1 future

Red Bull boss issues statement on Max Verstappen F1 future

  • Yesterday 20:15
Martin Brundle pays tribute after Sky Sports F1 presenter's departure

Martin Brundle pays tribute after Sky Sports F1 presenter's departure

  • Yesterday 19:30

Just in

26-6
F1 boss makes statement on driver linked to join team: 'He's doing very well'
26-6
Max Verstappen manager fires Red Bull warning: 'He wasn't born to compete in midfield'
26-6
Monaco Grand Prix result STILL in doubt as two drivers issue protest response
26-6
Fernando Alonso just dropped the biggest clue yet about his F1 future
26-6
Red Bull boss issues statement on Max Verstappen F1 future
F1 news

Recommended by the editors

Martin Brundle pays tribute after Sky Sports F1 presenter's departure Latest F1 News

Martin Brundle pays tribute after Sky Sports F1 presenter's departure

Yesterday 19:30
Red Bull chief 'set to leave' for rival F1 team F1 News & Gossip

Red Bull chief 'set to leave' for rival F1 team

Yesterday 18:45
F1 Qualifying Today: Austrian Grand Prix 2026 start times, schedule, TV channel and FREE live stream F1 Austrian Grand Prix

F1 Qualifying Today: Austrian Grand Prix 2026 start times, schedule, TV channel and FREE live stream

Yesterday 16:30
Channel 4 F1 highlights today: How to watch the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix FREE F1 Austrian Grand Prix

Channel 4 F1 highlights today: How to watch the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix FREE

Yesterday 15:45
Ontdek het op Google Play
x