UPDATES WITH DEATH TOLL; CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE
By Selman Aksunger and Busra Nur Cakmak
ROTTERDAM (AA) – Three people were killed in two cases of shooting in the Dutch city of Rotterdam on Thursday, according to local media.
A 14-year-old girl, who was seriously injured, and her 39-year-old mother died, Rotterdam police said on X.
A 46-year-old man, who was teaching at Erasmus Medical Center, was fatally shot, the police added.
The Dutch police arrested a 32-year-old man, the suspect of twin shootings in Rotterdam, according to Dutch daily AD.
The police said they do not believe a second shooter was involved.
Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb, police chief Fred Westerbeke and city's chief public prosecutor addressed a news conference to share details about the shootings.
Westerbeke said the suspect carried out the first attack on a house in the Heiman Dullaertplein area where he lived. The 39-year-old woman was killed in this attack and her 14-year-old daughter was seriously injured.
The attacker then set the house on fire, he added.
The second attack, he said, took place in one of the classrooms at the Erasmus University Hospital, 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) away from the scene of first attack, where the attacker was previously a student, and a 46-year-old teacher was killed.
The attacker also threw a Molotov cocktail at the hospital to start a fire and he was caught with his gun and he was wearing a bulletproof vest, according to the Rotterdam police.
Police also said they thought the attacks were carried out by a single person and that they were investigating the gunman's motive.
The suspect had a criminal record for animal abuse in 2021, police added.
The examination at the hospital was completed and patient admission resumed, said the police.
- 'Emotions are very intense in the city'
The Rotterdam mayor said: "We were shocked by the terrible attack. Fire was opened at two different points in the city, in front of many people."
"Emotions are very high in the city," said Aboutaleb, adding that the necessary support will be given to those in need.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte also shared his great sadness due to the attack, saying on X: "My thoughts go out to the victims of the violence, their loved ones and to all the people who have been in great fear."