A sense of shock and grief enveloped the Dutch city of Rotterdam as authorities confirmed that three individuals, including a 14-year-old girl, lost their lives in a devastating shooting incident that unfolded in two separate locations.
The assailant, a lone gunman wearing a bulletproof vest, first struck in a residential apartment, unleashing gunfire that claimed the lives of a 39-year-old woman and her 14-year-old daughter. The devastating act of violence left the community reeling in sorrow and disbelief.
Following the initial attack, the gunman moved swiftly to the Erasmus Medical Centre, a prominent university hospital in Rotterdam. Inside the hospital, he targeted a 46-year-old man, ending his life in a hail of bullets. The incident sent shockwaves through the medical center, as patients and medical staff scrambled to escape the sudden eruption of violence.
Disturbing footage shared on social media captured the chaotic scene, with a fire breaking out at the Erasmus Medical Centre, adding to the mayhem. The hospital’s premises turned into a scene of panic and desperation, with patients and medics alike fleeing the building. Some patients were wheeled out on beds, while others resorted to barricading themselves inside rooms and displaying hand-written signs on windows to indicate their location to first responders.
In a statement posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Rotterdam’s police force revealed that fires had broken out at both locations where the shootings occurred. Law enforcement agencies responded swiftly to the unfolding crisis, and a 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being the gunman responsible for both shootings.
A spokesperson for the local police force provided an update on the situation, stating, “He [the gunman] passed through the Erasmus MC after the [shooting in the] classroom. He may have also caused victims there. We are working on that. He also started a fire there. The fire brigade is doing everything it can to get people out of there properly, patients, people who were working there, and students. That is now priority number one – to get them all to safety.”
As the investigation unfolds, the motive behind these tragic shootings remains unclear, leaving the community and authorities grappling with the shock and sorrow of the events that transpired in Rotterdam.
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima expressed their heartfelt sympathy on social media, stating, “Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the victims of the violence this afternoon in Rotterdam. We also think of everybody who lived in fear during these terrible actions.” The royal couple’s message of compassion resonated with a nation in mourning, as the city and its residents grapple with the aftermath of this devastating tragedy.
