Rotterdam, the Netherlands, was gripped by a horrific shooting incident as a heavily armed gunman, dressed in combat attire and wearing a bulletproof vest, carried out a rampage at a residence and a hospital on Thursday. The shocking attacks claimed the lives of a 14-year-old girl, her mother, and a teacher.
Dutch authorities are actively investigating the motive behind these twin assaults, both perpetrated by a 32-year-old male suspect who also set fire to both the hospital and the residence.
The assailant initially stormed into a house in Rotterdam and opened fire, resulting in the tragic death of a 39-year-old woman and causing serious injuries to her 14-year-old daughter, according to police chief Fred Westerbeke’s statements to reporters. Heartbreakingly, the young girl succumbed to her injuries at a later point.
The gunman then proceeded to a classroom within the Erasmus MC university hospital, where he fatally shot a 46-year-old teacher before setting off another fire within the facility, causing widespread panic among staff and patients.
The unfolding crisis prompted elite police units to swiftly intervene, storming the hospital to contain the situation. Chaotic scenes ensued around the hospital, with helicopters hovering overhead and police snipers taking positions on the hospital roof.
Following his arrest, the suspect was taken into custody, and Chief Public Prosecutor Hugo Hillenaar confirmed that he was cooperating with the authorities. The community remains shaken by this tragedy, and investigations into the incident are ongoing to determine the underlying motives and circumstances surrounding these senseless acts of violence.
