19-year-old man killed in latest Amsterdam shooting

A 19-year-old man was killed in the shooting on Kattenburgerkade and Olifantswerf on Thursday morning, the police announced. Three other young men, aged 18 and 19, were taken to hospital with various injuries. None of them are in a life-threatening condition.

A witness told the police that one man opened fire on the group of four to five men. So far the police released no information on the identity of the victims or motive for the shooting, other than saying a conflict may have preceded it.

A local resident told newspaper AD that he heard shots just before 1:00 a.m. "First I heard three, four, five bangs in the spot where a scooter used by the men was later found. Fireworks are often lit here, so I first thought of that, but shortly afterwards I heard very loud shouting", the witness said. "They ran frantically to the other side of the flat [the Kattenburgerkade]. Panic broke out and I heard something like: 'Hey Hamza, hey Hamza!' I saw one boy lying on the ground. He was probably shot in his butt or leg and was conscious. A boy who crouched next to him said: 'The next time it goes through your head'."

The witness saw one shooter, his neighbors who gathered on the gallery saw two gunmen. It is believed they used pistols to shoot on the group of young men. "I heard officers who examined the bullets and casings talk about 'nine millimeters'." the witness said.

The police are investigating at the crime scene. A scooter found on the sidewalk nearby the crime scene, was confiscated by the police and is being examined for trace evidence, according to the newspaper. No arrests were made as yet.