Dutch police evacuate three shopping centers after shooting spree, reason unclear

Dutch police evacuate three shopping centers after shooting spree, reason unclear

2011-04-09 22:40:24 GMT+7 (ICT)

ALPHEN AAN DEN RIJN, NETHERLANDS (BNO NEWS) -- Authorities in the Netherlands on late Saturday afternoon decided to evacuate three shopping centers in the town of Alphen aan de Rijn, hours after a deadly shooting spree at another shopping center.

The evacuations were ordered just after 4.30 p.m. local time, Alphen aan de Rijn Acting Mayor Bas Eenhoorn said during a joint press conference with officials representing the police department and the prosecutor's office. Eenhoorn refused to give details about the reason for the evacuations.

"The criminal investigation has resulted in sufficient leads to be careful," the city government said in a statement. "As a precaution, for these reasons, other shopping centers in Alphen aan den Rijn are being evacuated. We ask everyone not to visit shopping centers."

Earlier on Saturday, a gunman carrying a machine gun opened fire inside the Ridderhof mall in Alphen aan de Rijn, which is located in the western part of the European country. The shooting left 6 people dead, including the gunman who took his own life, and injured 11 others.

Kitty Nooy, an official with the country's prosecutor's office, said the gunman was a young man who lived in Alphen aan de Rijn, but gave no age or name. She said the man was known to police but rejected rumors that he was a former soldier.

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