Gunman at Dutch mall kills 6, himself

ALPHEN AAN DEN RIJN, Netherlands -- A man armed with a machine gun opened fire in a crowded shopping mall yesterday, killing six people and wounding 15, then committed suicide, officials and witnesses said.

Children were among the casualties, including an infant who was lightly 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," Eenhoorn said. "Alphen is in mourning."

The gunman was identified as Tristan van der Vlis, 24, 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, Nooy said. The malls were evacuated, but no explosives were found.

A witness identified as Maart Verbeek told state broadcaster NOS that 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, 41, a receptionist, told The Associated Press she was shopping at a drugstore 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.

"Then we heard the shots getting farther away, so he was walking back and forth," she said. "Then we thought we'd have a look and there were two people lying dead near the entrance. . . . Then he came back shooting so we locked the door again."

Nooy said the shooter was a native Dutchman from Alphen who had previous run-ins with the law, including an illegal weapons possession charge when he was only 17 years old that was later dropped. He lived with his father.

He had permits for five guns, including the machine gun, Mayor Eenhoorn said.

The exact type of weapon was not identified. Dutch law forbids ownership of most firearms, but makes exceptions for some collectors and hunters. Eenhoorn said prosecutors were investigating whether the permits had been properly granted.

Queen Beatrix and Prime Minister Mark Rutte issued statements saying they were shocked and sympathize with the victims and their families.

Hours after the shooting, residents -- some of whom appeared to be in a daze -- continued to gather at the mall.

"You hear about this sort of thing happening at American schools and you think that's a long way away," said Rob Kuipers, 50, a project manager. "Now it's happened here in the Netherlands."