Rotterdam shootings: Three fatalities result in gunman's arrest

 Rotterdam shootings: Three fatalities result in gunman's arrest

A shooter responsible for at least three fatal shootings in the city of Rotterdam has been detained by Dutch police.

They claim that on Thursday, the 32-year-old male attacker attacked the city's Erasmus Medical Center after opening fire in a house and burning it ablaze.

He was a student at the hospital's partner institution, Erasmus University.

In the initial shooting, a 39-year-old woman and her 14-year-old daughter perished. At the hospital, a 43-year-old male lecturer was fatally shot.

A man wearing camouflage gear is seen in video being led away from the hospital structure in handcuffs. The attack's motivations were not immediately clear.

It was a "shocking" day, a security guard who claims to have been first on the scene told the BBC.

He appeared terrified and repeated, "It was terrible, terrible," refusing to provide his name.

He claimed that the shooter had not used the main entrance to access the medical center.

In a social media statement, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated: "My thoughts go out to the victims of the violence, their loved ones, and to all the people who have been in great fear."

Following the incident on Thursday, Rotterdam police officers indicated they knew the shooter. Two years ago, he was found guilty of animal cruelty.

The suspect's name is Fouad L., according to Dutch media.

There were no signs, according to the authorities, of a second shooter.

Employees were observed rushing out of the medical center with patients, some of whom were on stretchers, as the gunfire began.

Two hospital windows had taped signs that stated, "Room 32. We are unable to go.

Israeli student Barak, 27, told the BBC that the gunfire started as he was in a job interview. With so many sirens and messages, it was ominous when he emerged.

He continued, "We can't believe it was one of us.

An additional student informed the website of RTL Nieuws: "First, there was a firing on the fourth floor. There were four or five shots fired. The education center was then hit by a Molotov cocktail.

Helicopters were spotted hovering over the hospital as elite police troops, including snipers, assaulted the facility.

Police reported that the tall, dark-haired guy with battle gear who was also carrying a backpack, headphones, and a weapon was perhaps riding a motorcycle when he was apprehended.