Rotterdam explosion critically injures boy, 14

A 14-year-old boy is still in critical condition after shrapnel from an early New Year's Day explosion hit him in the head. The boy was standing more than 40 meters away from a group of people who blew up a parking meter using fireworks. The incident happened at 12:50 a.m. near the intersection of Wolphaertsbocht and Den Hertigstraat in Rotterdam. "Witnesses had seen a group of youths running away from the parking meter shortly before the explosion," police wrote in an incident report. The boy, from Rotterdam, was taken to an area hospital along with a 26-year-old man who suffered injuries to his face and arms. The adult was released "from the hospital and is recovering at home," police say.

Bij deze parkeermeter kan je nooit meer betalen. #vandalisme #vuurwerkschade #stadsbeheer pic.twitter.com/vDXA3Qsnnf

— woonoverlast (@ivt_rtdzuid) January 2, 2014

Police have not arrested any suspects and are still actively investigating the incident. Anyone with information, or even videos and photos from mobile phones, should contact detectives in the Rotterdam southern district by calling 0900-8844, or anonymously calling 0800-7000.