Man opens fire with machine gun in shopping mall

Associated Press

ALPHEN AAN DEN RIJN, Netherlands

A man armed with a machine gun opened fire in a crowded shopping mall Saturday, killing six people and wounding 15, then committing suicide, officials and witnesses said.

Children were among the casualties, including an infant who was slightly injured, said Mayor Bas Eenhoorn. Three of the wounded were hospitalized in critical condition.

The rampage ended when the attacker shot himself in the head at the Ridderhof mall in Alphen aan den Rijn, a suburb 19 miles southwest of Amsterdam.

“It’s too terrible for words, a shock for us all,” said Eenhoorn.

“Alphen is in mourning.”

The gunman was identified as 24-year-old Tristan van der Vlis, and it was “all but certain” he acted alone, District Attorney Kitty Nooy said. Afterward, a note was found in the attacker’s black Mercedes containing threats that he had planted explosives at three other malls in the city, said Nooy. The malls were evacuated, but no explosives were found.

A witness identified as Maart Verbeek told state broadcaster NOS the attacker appeared to be firing randomly.

“There was a panic in the mall, a lot of people running,” said Verbeek, a pet- shop owner.

“I see the attacker coming, walking, and I go inside the store ... and I see him going by with a big machine gun.”

Witness Martine Spruit, a 41-year-old receptionist, told The Associated Press she was shopping at a drug store when she heard bangs, and people in the store hid behind shelves, realizing a shooting was taking place. Customers shouted for employees to lock the doors.