Six dead after gunman carrying machine gun opens fire inside Dutch shopping mall

Six dead after gunman carrying machine gun opens fire inside Dutch shopping mall

2011-04-09 20:08:41 GMT+7 (ICT)

ALPHEN AAN DEN RIJN, NETHERLANDS (BNO NEWS) -- An unidentified man carrying a machine gun opened fire inside a shopping mall in the Netherlands on early Saturday afternoon, killing at least 5 people and injuring nearly a dozen others. He then killed himself.

The shooting attack happened at around 12.15 p.m. local time at the Ridderhof mall in the town of Alphen aan de Rijn, located in the western part of the country, when the gunman opened fire at crowds of people inside.

"A man, whose identity we cannot release at this time, fired shots inside the Ridderhof," Acting Mayor Bas Eenhoorn said during a press conference, confirming that the gunman killed five people before killing himself. "It is a disaster with huge proportions that has hit Alphen aan de Rijn."

Eenhoorn said at least four of the injured are in an "extremely" serious condition, while five others sustained moderate injuries. Two people sustained minor injuries, although Eenhoorn indicated this number could rise.

"What happened to us in the Netherlands, on this beautiful day, is a shock to us all," the Acting Mayor said. He confirmed the shooter was armed with at least one machine gun and said a criminal investigation had been initiated.

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