OVERASSELT – A deadly shooting in the Dutch village of Overasselt, in the province of Gelderland, has left a 51-year-old man dead, two police officers wounded and 34 people under arrest. Police say the situation in the area is still not considered completely safe.
The incident took place overnight from Monday into Tuesday near a home on Ewijkseweg. When police arrived following a report of suspicious activity, officers were immediately fired upon. Both officers were injured but are now out of danger.
Police arrested 34 people at several locations, including a nearby cornfield, Nijmegen railway station and the A73 and A76 highways. Multiple weapons and vehicles were also seized. The suspects are from France, Belgium, Algeria and the Netherlands.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office suspects those arrested of involvement in murder, attempted murder and preparations for a kidnapping. The precise motive has not yet been established, although authorities describe the case as a long-running conflict.
The violence has shocked Overasselt, normally a quiet village. Parts of the area remained closed and residents were urged to stay indoors, partly because police could not rule out that additional weapons were still in the surrounding area.