Yesterday’s shootings in Rotterdam in which three people were killed was a “personal revenge attack” by the alleged gunman. 

Dutch police have arrested a 32-year-old man who was a student at the local Erasmus University where he was enrolled in a medicine course. 

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, Netherlands-based journalist Gordon Darroch said Rotterdam is still “reeling” from yesterday’s events. 

“[The alleged shooter] first of all went to a house in Rotterdam, he shot a 39-year-old woman dead and there was an explosion in the doorway, so he may have used some kind of firebomb,” Mr Darroch said. 

“[The woman’s] 14-year-old daughter was also seriously injured - either she was hot or she was hit by flying glass in the explosion but she later died of her injuries as well. 

“He then went on to the Erasmus Medical Centre - which is the main hospital in Rotterdam, just up the road - and he went inside and witnesses said they heard him go into a classroom and fire five shots at a teacher, a 43-year-old man… and he later died of his injuries.”

Animal abuse

The suspect was then arrested by police and it has since emerged that the woman who died was his neighbour and had previously reported him for animal abuse. 

“This seems to have been a personal revenge attack targeted at people he felt had slighted him in his life and who had reported him for abusing his pets,” Mr Darroch said. 

“We also know the Prosecution Service had written an email recently to the medical faculty in Rotterdam warning them about his behaviour and his mistreatment of animals because he was training to be a doctor.” 

Dutch media have named the suspect as Fouad L.

Main image: Police officers from the special interventions department at the Erasmus MC Rotterdam on the Westzeedijk. Picture by: Alamy.com