Hundreds of supportive messages for cop hurt in Utrecht explosion

The Kanaleneiland police station in Utrecht received hundreds of cards and letters expressing support for a police officer injured after an explosion in an apartment building in the city on Thursday. Dozens of bunches of flowers were delivered, and social media is also flooded with messages for the police officer, NOS reports.

"We feel the support. Overwhelming", a police officer said to RTV Utrecht.

The officer was helping to evacuate the residents of an apartment building on Marshallaan after a fire and explosion on Thursday when he got trapped by fire and smoke. He had to jump from a second floor window to safety. He broke both his legs. 

https://twitter.com/exogeen/status/1009885712794169344

The explosion was caused by a fire in an apartment. A 70-year-old man turned himself in to the police in connection with the incident. He was arrested. According to NOS, he is suspected of arson and stabbing his wife to death. The woman's body was found in the apartment after the fire.

The victim's family called on people to help commemorate her at the Sayidina Ibrahim mosque on Sunday, during a special funeral prayer after the regular afternoon prayer, RTV Utrecht reports. Between 500 and a thousand people showed up for this prayer. Many people prayed outside because the mosque was too full. 

[VIDEO] Gebed voor omgekomen vrouw Kanalaneiland. Het was zo druk dat honderden moslims buiten moesten bidden. https://t.co/N9IA18x0lU #utrecht pic.twitter.com/5a1z8whabz

— RTV Utrecht (@rtvutrecht) June 24, 2018