Mayor Gerdo van Grootheest van Oosterhout responded to the shooting in Oosterhout on Friday afternoon. “My thoughts go out to the victims, the family and the relatives. I am very shocked by this terrible incident in our city,” he says in a statement. “I call on everyone to keep the peace.”
Although Van Grootheest does not respond to it, he seems to be referring to the unrest in the neighborhood on Friday afternoon. Many bystanders came to the shooting, who reacted emotionally. The police had to use dogs to drive them apart.
In his explanation, Van Grootheest also announced that he would sympathize with the eyewitnesses. “With bewilderment and horror, I have taken note of the fierce events. I understand that the situation raises many questions and also entails unrest in the neighborhood.”
“As a mayor I am in close contact with the public prosecutor and the police,” he says. “I call on everyone to keep the peace. Let’s give the police plenty of room to carry out the investigation well.”
Identity Victims
The police themselves let them know that they currently have more questions than answers. They are looking for witnesses, images, or for people who know more about the business. They can’t say anything about the identity of the victims.
The spokespersons of the Turkish and Moroccan mosques in Oosterhout have confirmed that the victims were visitors to their mosque. It is a Turkish and a Moroccan Dutchman.