32 suspects treated as group in murder case after security guard killed in Netherlands

OVERASSELT — Dutch prosecutors are treating 32 people arrested after violence in Overasselt as a group suspected of murder or manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a security guard.

The group consists of 16 French nationals, 11 Dutch nationals, two Algerians, one Libyan, one Ukrainian and one Belgian. Two of the French suspects are minors, aged 16 and 17, while the others are between 18 and 32.

The security guard was shot dead overnight from Monday to Tuesday while guarding the home of Jan G., who has been linked to drug-related crime and previously convicted.

The group is also suspected of attempted murder of two police officers, preparations for murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, unlawful detention and firearms offences.

All 32 suspects are due to appear before an investigating judge, who will decide whether they remain in custody. Prosecutors say further investigation must establish who fired the shots and what role each suspect played.

Police arrested 34 people in total. Two are being released because there is currently insufficient evidence linking them directly to the crime scenes, although they remain suspects in the investigation.