Man shot dead at Rotterdam barbecue

A man was shot and killed while barbecuing with friends in a garden on Paardebloem in Rotterdam-Ommoord on Sunday night. A man in a hoody walked past and shot him, according to eye witnesses. The gunman is still at large, AD reports.

The victim was barbecuing with three friends to celebrate iftar - the breaking of the fast during Ramadan, according to the newspaper.

According to an eyewitness, the shooting happened very quickly. "In ten seconds it was done", he said to AD. "I immediately thought: he's dead."

The police searched the neighborhood immediately after the shooting, also using a helicopter and body heat scanner to look for the perpetrator, but to no avail. The helicopter landed around midnight with the perpetrator still at large, according to NOS. The getaway vehicle was found on Zernikeplaats, less than a kilometer away from the scene of the crime.

According to a neighbor, a young man came up to the scene shortly after the murder - the body was still on the sidewalk. He asked who was dead, and when the neighbor answered 'Hassan' the boy immediately walked away. "Bizarre, it's as if he came to check if they succeeded." the neighbor said to AD.

One of the victim's friends, who was barbecuing with him, was seen sitting on the sidewalk with his head in his hands, according to AD. No one could believe what happened. The motive for the shooting is unclear at this stage.