September 29th 2023.
Authorities had warned the suspect's university about his concerning behavior prior to the triple gun murder in the Netherlands. The suspect, a 32-year-old named locally as Fouad L, was arrested for animal abuse and found with Nazi images on his phone. He is now suspected of shooting dead his neighbour and her 14-year-old daughter, then setting their home in Rotterdam on fire on Thursday.
The Dutch authorities had tried to alert the university about the man's worrying and psychotic behaviour. Rotterdam's chief prosecutor said Fouad had been convicted in 2021 for torturing his rabbit while drunk, resulting in a 40-hour community service order. He had also been charged with shooting a pigeon, but the case was dismissed due to insufficient evidence. There was also an incident of him throwing a dog around his garden, though the outcome of the case could not immediately be confirmed.
An email from the Public Prosecution Service to the University, seen by Dutch broadcaster NOS, revealed that police found far-right propaganda and images of people being stabbed on Fouad’s phone. As well as run-ins with colleagues, he was reportedly spotted lying nalf-naked on a pile of leaves in his garden while laughing hysterically.
Fouad had subsequently been linked to a string of posts on the 4chan messaging board in which he appears to unload about many of the incidents and other aspects of his troubled past. He described himself as a 'clairvoyant genius' who is unable to connect with other people as he is too intelligent. One post stated that he acted out on a rabbit due to 'mortal levels of alcohol in my blood and deep trauma from being suspended'.
Neighbours told local media that the mother who died in the shooting had reported Fouad to the police for animal abuse several times, though it's not known whether those reports were what led to his conviction and other proceedings against him. Pictures of the aftermath of the incident showed a man in camouflage gear being led away from the Erasmus University Medical Centre in handcuffs. The suspect, who remains in custody, acted alone and the killings were 'targeted', police have said.
Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte posted on Twitter, expressing his thoughts for the victims of the violence and their loved ones, as well as all those in great fear. The suspect's motive is still being investigated.
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