A 60-year-old man in the Netherlands was beaten to death after confronting a group of youths who were pelting passing cars with snowballs, police said, as two teenage suspects were arrested in connection with the killing.

The incident took place on Monday near the Schiedam Nieuwland metro station near Rotterdam. According to police, the victim approached the youths after they began throwing snowballs at vehicles in the area. A confrontation followed, during which a fight broke out, and the man was struck and knocked to the ground. He later died from his injuries.

Police reported they have arrested two boys from Schiedam, aged 16 and 17, after identifying them through security camera footage. The 16-year-old reported to a police station on Tuesday, though officers declined to say why. “We never comment on reports or why someone files a report, so we won’t do that now either,” a police spokesperson said, as cited by NOS.

The second suspect, a 17-year-old boy, was arrested shortly afterward at his home.

Dutch law prevents both the identity and a description of the attackers from being made public due to their age.

The police had initially arrested two other youths, also from Rotterdam. “Based on witness statements, we arrested two people on Monday, but it turned out they weren’t the ones,” its spokesperson said. They added that CCTV footage later showed the two individuals now detained.

Emergency services were initially called following reports of a resuscitation attempt. According to local reports, a bystander who first reached the victim was a trained first responder who lived nearby. He retrieved an automated external defibrillator from his apartment and attempted to revive the man, but was unsuccessful.

De 60-jarige opa die in Schiedam vermoord werd door ijsballengooiers, heette Berry.

RIP 😪❤️ pic.twitter.com/9UWQQCWV9r

— Lou Lewinsky 2 (@lewinskylou2) January 9, 2026

Emotional tributes have been left at the scene this week, including a card from the victim’s daughter that read, “As special as the snow fell, so special was your departure, Dad.”

“I’m proud of you, Dad. I love you so much! Love, your (big) little girl,” she added.

Another card read, “Thank you for your help and the laughs,” reads one card. “You were always there for us. Thank you, Berry.”

In a statement on Thursday, the local mayor, Harald Bergmann, said the violence in the city had his “full attention.”

“Like everyone in Schiedam, I am angry and saddened by the senseless violence that has taken place in our city. My thoughts go out to the families of the victims, for whom this year has begun very sadly,” he added.