Twin shootings in Rotterdam, Netherlands, have resulted in two fatalities, according to local police. The tragic incident unfolded when a gunman dressed in combat gear opened fire in a flat in the Dutch city. The shooter then proceeded to enter a nearby medical center, where fires subsequently broke out. Fortunately, the fires were later extinguished.
In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, the Rotterdam city police confirmed the fatalities, saying, “The two shooting incidents in Rotterdam have resulted in fatalities. We will first inform family and relatives and will explain more later.”
Elite police units swiftly entered the hospital in Rotterdam in pursuit of the suspect, who was armed with a handgun, according to authorities. The suspected shooter is a 32-year-old individual, and at this point, the motive behind the attack remains unknown. Local news agency ANP, citing police sources, reported that the suspect is believed to have carried out both shootings, and there is no second shooter involved.
Images from the scene depicted people evacuating the hospital, including medical staff and patients, as police officers in body armor mobilized on-site. Police helicopters were seen flying overhead.
Earlier reports described the suspect as wearing “combat-style” clothing, tall, with black hair, and carrying a backpack.
Witnesses recounted the chaos and panic that ensued. A medical student cited by RTL Nieuws reported, “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.” Another eyewitness, as cited by public broadcaster NOS, said, “There was a lot of panic and screaming… I didn’t hear any shots, just the panic, and that’s what I started to act on.”
Notably, Rotterdam has witnessed shootings in the past, often attributed to score-settling among rival drug gangs. Authorities are expected to hold a news conference to provide further details on the incident.
The Netherlands has experienced incidents of violence in the past, including a 2019 tram shooting in Utrecht, which resulted in three deaths, and a 2011 rampage in a shopping mall by Tristan van der Vlis, which left six people dead and ten others injured, shocking the country.
