Rabobank worker, mom of 2, fatally stabbed by bank's headquarters

By Janene Pieters on March 1, 2017 - 07:34
detail-afzetlint
Crime scene (Photo: Politie). (Crime scene (Photo: Politie))

A 41-year-old mother of two was stabbed almost in front of the Rabobank headquarters on Croeselaan in Utrecht where she works on Tuesday morning. She died in hospital later in the day. A 31-year-old suspect was immediately arrested, AD reports.

The police can not yet say whether the woman was specifically targeted by her attacker, or was just a victim of opportunity. 

One eyewitness told RTV Utrecht that he saw the stabber running along in front of Rabobank. At the Moreelse bridge he ran into the woman and stabbed her in the abdomen. The victim initially did not seem to notice that anything was wrong until she collapsed.

The suspect was arrested in front of Knoopkazerne, not far from the scene of the crime, eyewitness Herman de Vette said to newspaper AD. "He walked calmly towards Rabobank, when four officers with drawn guns shouted that he was under arrest and that he had to lie down. He calmly cooperated with them. It is crazy that he walked back to where it happened."

An air ambulance landed in the Jaarbeurs' parking lot to give the woman medical treatment before rushing her to hospital. There she underwent surgery in critical condition, but later died of her injuries.

Many of the woman's colleagues witnessed the incident and were collected by Rabobank's emergency response team. "Occupational health and safety staff and psychological aid workers were also quick to help shocked employees",  a spokesperson for the bank said to AD. "It's really horribly tragic what happened."

The victim worked for Rabobank for almost 20 years. Se was a knowledge specialist and helped local banks with questions. The spokesperson described her as a beloved colleague. 

Rabobank set up a condolence register at the entrance of the headquarters on Wednesday. People who do not work for the bank can also sign the register if they want to, the spokesperson said to the newspaper. 

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