A Dutch student slaughtered a mother and daughter today after shooting them and setting them on fire in their own home. She then traveled to a nearby university and killed a teacher in a double shooting that shocked the Netherlands.
Frightened students, patients and health workers ran for their lives from the Erasmus Medical Centre, affiliated with Erasmus University, around 2pm on Thursday in the port city of Rotterdam.
Police have now revealed that the 32-year-old suspected gunman, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, killed a 39-year-old woman and her 14-year-old daughter in the first shooting at their home before traveling to university. where he used a motorcycle as a student and killed a 42-year-old teacher in a second shooting.
Rotterdam’s chief prosecutor, Hugo Hillenaar, said the suspected shooter, who has not yet been named, was known to law enforcement because he was charged and convicted in 2021 for abusing his rabbit while drunk. He was reportedly given a 40-hour community service sentence for the crime.
Police have not yet revealed a motive for the alleged fatal attack by the man, identified by Dutch media only as Fouad L.
Asked whether the suspect had previously been rejected from the Erasmus program’s medical school, Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb said that this was a scenario “that we are considering.”
Terrified students fled the University Hospital after it was attacked by a gunman
A video showed a man being arrested by armed police after they stormed the building to see if the gunman was still inside
Police have launched a manhunt in the Netherlands after an attacker in military fatigues opened fire
Dutch media have since named the murdered teacher as 43-year-old Jürgen Damen, a general practitioner and lecturer who worked at the university.
He worked as a general practitioner for the Katendrecht Health Center, run by the Zonboog Foundation.
The director of the Zonboog Foundation, René Baljon, said: “The effects are great, for his family, his colleagues, but also for his patients.” Jürgen was a kind and committed general practitioner. He was also a coach.
“Many people in Rotterdam know him. This is also a shock for primary care across the region. “We don’t know what the perpetrator’s motive is, but this is terrible.”
It is understood the mother and daughter who were attacked in their home lived near the suspected shooter.
The Erasmus Medical Center has now reopened its doors to visitors and announced that it will be accepting patients again from Friday.
Meanwhile, Erasmus University canceled all scheduled classes on Friday and is offering advice to its students.
Police said the shooter will appear before a judge on Friday and is expected to be arraigned “on Monday or Tuesday.”
In a video of the shooting, the screams of those fleeing could be heard after a loud bang and a fire broke out inside the building.
Footage later showed a man being arrested by armed police after they stormed the building to see if the gunman, described as a large man in riot gear, was still inside.
Three people were killed in the attack that shocked the Netherlands
Witnesses to the incident were seen hugging and crying outside the medical school
Several people who were at the scene have since publicly shared their experiences of the horrific incident.
Eykha, a medical bioengineering student at the university, said on X, formerly Twitter: “Cried for hours.” My hands are still shaking. It’s the darkest day of my entire life.’
Kaouther Mouheb, a doctoral student at the medical school, said: “After leaving the US because I did not feel safe… I did not expect to witness such an incident at my workplace in the Netherlands.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Aleksandra Badura, an associate professor at the university: “I never thought I would have to worry about an active shooter in the Netherlands, but here they are.”
She confirmed that everyone in her lab was safely evacuated.
Footage widely shared on social media shows terrified students running for their lives in Rotterdam
The video allegedly showed a burning classroom at the medical center in Rotterdam. It is reportedly still burning
University Hospital was attacked shortly after a shooting at a nearby home, which is also being investigated by police.
Officials had previously confirmed that at least three people were injured in this afternoon’s shootings in Rotterdam. But an updated statement at 4:30 p.m. said: “There were fatalities in the two shootings in Rotterdam.” We are now informing family and relatives first. We will provide further explanations later.’
The unnamed 32-year-old man was arrested under the hospital’s helipad and police were investigating his possible involvement in both shootings. Officers said the shooter had a handgun.
Dutch media reported that the suspect had previously been sentenced to 40 hours of community service for getting drunk and kicking his rabbit, which a veterinarian had to put out of its misery.
He was also brought before a judge for allegedly shooting a pigeon through the chest, but was acquitted due to lack of evidence.
He was also brought before a judge for allegedly kicking a dog. However, it is currently unknown if he was ever convicted for this.
The suspected gunman killed the mother, who has not yet been named, in her own home and shot her daughter, who later died
Rotterdam’s chief public prosecutor said the suspected shooter, whose name has not yet been fully released, is known to law enforcement
Dutch police are currently investigating the house where the mother and daughter were shot
While the mother probably died at the scene of the accident, her 14-year-old daughter died later in the hospital
The police have set up an investigation center in the home of the dead mother and daughter
The street was cordoned off by the police
Police officers were seen digging up dirt in the area
Dutch media reported that there were fires both in the house where the fire was extinguished and in the university hospital, where flames are still burning.
De Telegraaf reports that the suspect shot two people in a house on Heiman Dullaertplein in the west of the city. It is understood he then drove to Erasmus MC, less than a mile away.
A second shooting reportedly occurred in a classroom here.
Several officers, including specialized arrest teams, were photographed inside the cordoned off hospital.
Armed police searched the roof of the medical center while police helicopters hovered over the city.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes around the hospital as helicopters whirred overhead and police snipers took up positions on the hospital’s roof.
“First there was a shooting on the fourth floor. Four or five shots were fired. Then a Molotov cocktail was thrown into the education center,” a medical student who did not give his name told local media.
Another eyewitness told a public broadcaster: “There was a lot of panic and shouting… I didn’t hear any shots, just the panic, and that’s what I reacted to.”
Footage shared on social media showed students sprinting through corridors trying to escape the gunfire and flames.
Armed Dutch police flooded the Erasmus University medical faculty
An arrest team checked the Erasmus Medical Center to determine whether the shooter was still in the building, police added
Police officers direct passers-by away from the entrance to the hospital after it came under fire
A patient is picked up from the medical center in Rotterdam. The university was locked down
Medical staff evacuate the Erasmus MC Rotterdam, which was cordoned off by the police
Medical staff were forced to take patients out of the hospital while they were still bedridden
One student told the Dutch daily: “We just had to run away from the arrest team behind the school. ‘Something’s not right.’
Nigel Jansen, a 26-year-old intern who was held at gunpoint by armed police, recalled being told: “Hands up, get out quick!”
He told AD: “There was a lot of panic.” People were running and crying. “We had received something, but it was unclear what was going on.”
An elderly patient was evacuated from the medical center in a wheelchair while armed police stormed the building that houses the Erasmus University Rotterdam medical faculty.
Police previously said the shooter may have left the scene on a motorcycle. However, it later said an arrest team had checked the Erasmus Medical Center to see if he was still in the building.
Personalities from across the Netherlands have already begun to express their condolences for the victims and the residents of Rotterdam.
“There is great consternation following the dramatic events in Rotterdam this afternoon,” outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on X, formerly Twitter.
“My thoughts are with the victims of the violence, their families and all the people who are very afraid.” “Many thanks to the service staff for their commitment and support on site,” he added.
Dutch police officers gather near the entrance to the Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC) in Rotterdam on September 28, 2023
Police officers from the Erasmus MC Rotterdam special operations service
Several officers, including specialized arrest teams, were photographed inside the cordoned off hospital
Armed police officers were seen lining up outside the university
Emergency services, including fire and rescue services, armed police and emergency medical services, are coordinating their efforts
Health Minister Ernst Kuipers said: “Today, innocent victims were killed in a place where everyone should feel safe.” Attacked in a place where people are treated and the doctors of the future are trained. It’s hard for us to understand.’
The country’s royal family also paid tribute to the victims.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima said in a statement: “Our condolences go out to the families and friends of the victims of this afternoon’s violence in Rotterdam.”
In July, two people and a gunman were injured in a shooting at a summer carnival in Rotterdam.
The gunman was shot several times by police after he opened fire.
There have also been numerous small explosions in homes and businesses across Rotterdam this year, blamed on rival drug gangs.
Web has contacted Erasmus University for comment.