The Netherlands on Monday starts the trial of a man suspected of shooting dead three people and setting fire to a hospital in Rotterdam during a rampage that sparked pandemonium and shocked the country.
A medical student named as Fouad L. is suspected of shooting dead his neighbour and her 14-year-old daughter before storming into the packed Erasmus hospital in Rotterdam hurling petrol bombs.
The 32-year-old, who has become known in the Dutch press as the “Erasmus shooter”, is not expected to be present for the opening of the trial, held under tight security in the Dutch port city.
In the hospital, he burst into a classroom and shot dead a 43-year-old teacher. Authorities believe L. was motivated by anger after passing his medical exams but being required to take a psychological test.
Prosecutors had warned the hospital that he displayed “psychotic” behaviour, including lying half-naked on a pile of leaves, laughing maniacally, and torturing his pet rabbit.
This warning had prompted the hospital to order psychiatric testing, meaning the suspected killer had not received his diploma to practice medicine.
Authorities had also examined his phone and found images of people being stabbed, along with far-right propaganda.
The busy hospital contains around 25,000 people and the arson rampage sparked panic, as staff scrambled to evacuate patients, many in wheelchairs or on stretchers.
The suspect initially admitted his crime, then invoked his right to silence. He is currently undergoing psychological assessment, according to the court in Rotterdam.
Another man is also in custody, suspected of supplying him with the weapons.
© Agence France-Presse
