Dutch police announced on Friday the arrest of a 24-year-old man suspected of fatally shooting three people in the city of Rotterdam over the past two weeks.
According to Prosecutor General Hugo Hillenaar, there is no indication the shootings were motivated by any specific agenda or personal grudges. The victims, none of whom appear to have had any connection to one another, were allegedly chosen at random — sowing fear throughout the port city, which is unaccustomed to such indiscriminate violence.
On Thursday evening, police apprehended the man — who has no fixed place of residence — after identifying and photographing him in connection with the shootings.
A weapon was recovered at the scene of his arrest. During a press conference, Hillenaar stated that the suspect was born on the Caribbean island of Curaçao and later grew up in the Netherlands. As a constituent island country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, citizens of Curaçao do not need any special visa requirements to move to the country.
Although the suspect was known to authorities for minor offenses, investigators so far have found no clues pointing to a motive for these alleged murders.
“It’s a nightmare for everyone in Rotterdam, but also for me personally and for all professionals involved, because someone was walking around freely shooting victims randomly,” Hillenaar remarked.
The violence began on Dec. 21 when a 63-year-old man was shot in the head, eventually succumbing to his injuries. One week later, a 58-year-old man was shot and killed under similar circumstances in the same neighborhood. Authorities announced that a third victim, whose identity has not been released, was also shot in the same area, leading police to believe the killings were connected. All three incidents showed similar patterns, adding to the sense of alarm in Rotterdam.
While gun violence in the Netherlands often has links to organized crime, the apparently random nature of the shootings fueled public concern.
Latest photo released of suspect wanted for crushing a sleeping homeless man’s head with a paving stone. Police fear he could already be in Belgium. https://t.co/oTd0VdRHdu
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) November 11, 2024The spate of shootings prompted warnings from local officials. Rotterdam authorities, especially within the southeastern IJselmonde district, urged residents to stay vigilant and avoid going outside alone at night or in secluded areas.
“Do not go outside alone, especially in dark, secluded places. If you see a suspicious situation, call 112 immediately,” read an official statement from the Rotterdam Police.
Mayor Carola Schouten expressed her relief at the suspect’s arrest, saying it brings a measure of reassurance to a city that had been gripped by fear. However, she and other officials caution residents to remain vigilant until the investigation fully concludes.
Nederland anno 2025: “Ga niet alleen de straat op.”
Natuurlijk moeten we de verstandige adviezen van de politie altijd opvolgen en dus zeker ook nu!
Maar in het algemeen zou ik zeggen: haal al dat tuig, die criminelen, van onze straten AF. Opsluiten en als het kan uitzetten! https://t.co/534ioQIYt0
— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) January 2, 2025Geert Wilders, leader of the governing Party for Freedom (PVV), weighed in via social media, highlighting the police advice and calling for stricter measures against crime.
“Of course, we must always follow the sensible advice of the police, especially now! But in general, I would say: Get all those scum, those criminals, off our streets. Lock them up and deport them if possible!” he wrote.
