Dutch police confirm two deaths in Rotterdam following twin shootings

Dutch police have confirmed two people have died after a pair of shootings in the city of Rotterdam.

The attacks took place at the Erasmus Medical Centre – a university hospital – and a nearby residential property in the port city on Thursday.

A 32-year-old man has been arrested by police and is believed to be the gunman involved in both shootings.

The shooter killed a 39-year-old woman and seriously injured her 14-year-old daughter, before moving onto the hospital where he shot dead a 46-year-old man, police said.

In a statement shared on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Rotterdam’s police force said fires broke out at both locations.

Footage shared on social media shows a fire burning at the Erasmus Medical Centre (Credit: X / @ADinmohamed)

A spokesperson for the force said: “He [gunman] passed through the Erasmus MC after the [shooting in the] classroom.

“He may have also caused victims there. We are working on that. He also started a fire there.

“The fire brigade is doing everything it can to get people out of there properly, patients, people who were working there and students. That is now priority number one, to get them all to safety.”

The spokesperson added the suspected gunman was arrested outside the hospital.

Currently, it is not clear what the motive was for the shootings.