Three people were killed on Thursday, September 28, after a 32-year-old man shot at a house and then a hospital in Rotterdam, in the southwest of the Netherlands, Dutch police said, according to a new report . The man, who was arrested, appears to have acted alone for reasons still unknown, she said.
According to police, the shooter was known to authorities for animal abuse and was a student at the hospital. “We cannot yet say anything about the motives for these terrible acts. The investigation continues »Attorney General Hugo Hillenaar told journalists, specifying that the suspect was cooperating with the police.
The man opened fire in a house in the Dutch port city, killing a 39-year-old woman and seriously injuring her 14-year-old daughter – who died shortly afterwards – police chief Fred Westerbeke said. . He then entered a classroom at Erasmus Hospital, killing a 46-year-old teacher. Each time, he also started fires, which were quickly extinguished, but which caused panic.
“The two armed attacks in Rotterdam resulted in deaths. We will inform the family and relatives first and we will give them more explanations later”initially declared the city police in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). Half an hour later, police clarified, always onthat“a 32-year-old resident of Rotterdam was arrested. He is suspected of being involved in both incidents”.
Police earlier said the suspect was wearing clothing ” of fight “, that he was tall, with black hair and that he was carrying a backpack. Moreover, the police asked people who may have images of the attacks to send them to him, in order to help him in his investigation.
A “black day”
Footage at the scene showed people leaving the hospital, including doctors and patients, as police in bulletproof vests entered. Police helicopters flew overhead. Doctors in white coats carried patients on stretchers and wheelchairs.
“There were first shots on the fourth floor, four or five were fired. Then a Molotov cocktail was thrown in the educational center”declared a medical student quoted by the RTL television channel without giving his name. “There was a lot of panic and screaming…I didn’t hear any shots, just panic”said another eyewitness, quoted by the public channel NOS.
“I’m sad and angry”Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb told the press, speaking of a “black day” for his city. The Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, expressed his “great dismay”. “My thoughts are with the victims of this attack, their loved ones and all those who were immensely afraid”, he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima said their hearts go out to those suffering from “intense grief”.