Two people killed in shootings in Rotterdam

Two people were killed in shootings at two separate locations in the Dutch city of Rotterdam on Thursday. The suspect, a 32-year-old student, has been arrested.

The shootings took place in a lecture hall at the Erasmus Medical Centre and at a residence on Heiman Dullaertplein, more than a kilometre away, police confirmed in a press conference on Thursday evening.

A 39-year-old woman was shot dead near Heiman Dullaert Square, close to the suspect's home. Her 14-year-old daughter was seriously injured. A 46-year-old teacher died in a lecture hall at the Erasmus Hospital.

The suspect, a student at Erasmus University, was known to the security services and acted alone. He was convicted of cruelty to animals in 2021. He will be questioned on Thursday and is cooperating with the investigation. 

The man was carrying out a targeted operation, "but further investigation is needed into how and why," police said. The suspect was wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying a firearm when he was arrested.

"We have been rocked by a horrific incident," said Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb at the start of the press conference, praising the speed of the arrest team. The first reports came in just before 14.30 and the suspect was arrested more than an hour later. 

^{Medical staff leave the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, which was cordoned off after reports of a shooting © Bas Czerwinski / ANP / AFP}