[ 2011-04-09 ]

Gunman kills 6 in busy shopping centre
A 24-year-old gunman has opened fire with a
machine gun in a packed shopping centre in the
Netherlands, killing six people and then himself.

At least 10 others were injured in the shooting
which took place in the town of Alphen aan den
Rijn, 13 miles (21km) southwest of Amsterdam.

Panicked shoppers ran for cover as the gunman
launched his attack which lasted between 10 and 20
minutes, witnesses said.

"Initially, we thought it was fireworks,"
37-year-old Mehdi Attha said.

"Then the noises got closer and two people fell to
the ground very close to me.

"People went over to them to help, thinking that
they had fainted. When they understood that
someone was firing shots, everyone started
running."

Another witness, Marjolein Nieuwland, said: "I saw
a woman I know walking at the other side. She
wanted to enter a shop when a tall young man
approached and shot her in cold blood.

"He walked calmly and shot through the windows of
the shop where I was hiding.

"I also saw a woman in her motorised wheelchair
shot in the head, and at the Albert Heijn (grocery
store) there was a young man. Also dead. Later I
heard that was the shooter."

The man was dressed in camouflage trousers and was
carrying a machine gun and a pistol. He was
described as looking agitated and distressed
before opening fire.

Sky's Europe correspondent Alex Rossi

Regional police chief Jan Stikvoort said shots
were still being fired when officers arrived at
the scene shortly after the gunman opened fire
around midday.

"You can imagine, a lot of people, a lot of panic,
a lot of people needing to be taken care of," he
said.

Acting mayor Bas Eenhoorn said a number of
children had been shot by the gunman, but he did
not know if any had been killed.

At a news conference, police identified the gunman
as 24-year-old Tristan van der Vlis.

He lived in the town with his father and is said
to have left a 'goodbye' letter to his mother.

Police said he had a licence for five weapons and
had three in his possession, but it is not known
whether they were used in the attack.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a statement he
was "horrified" at the shooting.

"My thoughts are with victims, survivors, and all
who have been involved in this tragedy," he said.

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands sent a message of
condolence to the victims' relatives over the
"terrible situation".

Sky's Europe correspondent Alex Rossi said police
are interviewing witnesses in a bid to reconstruct
the events and are still unclear about the
motivation for the attack.

He said: "The man was dressed in camouflage
trousers and was carrying a machine gun and a
pistol.

"He was described as looking agitated and
distressed before opening fire."

Source - Sky news

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