Amsterdam cafe closed down following drive-by shooting

Amsterdam Mayor Eberhard van der Laan ordered the indefinite closure of cafe De Kruger on Krugerstraat following two shooting incidents linked to the establishment this year. The safety of residents and passersby was in serious jeopardy, the municipality said in announcing the decision on Wednesday. The cafe was the subject of two shooting incidents this year, on June 7th and November 1st. There are indications that the shooting in June was the result of an out-of-hand argument over a "rip deal," a type of confidence trick where one party makes off with all the goods. On November 1st the cafe was the target of a drive-by shooting. Several people were in the shop when the shooting happened, but luckily no one was hurt. The mayor and municipality concluded that residents are suffering inconvenience and visitors to De Kruger no longer feel safe. The bullet casings also show that passersby and residents could be in danger if any further shootings occur, which can not be ruled out. Mayor Van der Laan ordered the closure of De Kruger with immediate effect based on the severity of the circumstance, the city said.