Ex fatally stabbed woman at Hardenberg childcare center before injuring self

The man who fatally stabbed a woman at an after-school center in Hardenberg on Tuesday afternoon was the victim’s ex who couldn’t accept that she ended the relationship, locals told RTV Oost. The victim was an employee of the childcare center, De Kameleon on Blanckvoortallee, and many children witnessed the attack.

The man waited for the victim at the after-school center late on Tuesday afternoon. He confronted her when she came out and stabbed her, witnesses told RTV Oost. The street was crowded. “Parents came to pick up their children from daycare. It was the busiest time of the day,” a local said.

The man then jumped into his car and tried to flee, but a neighbor managed to prevent this by smashing the windshield with a broom. The man then grabbed his knife and stabbed himself several times in the stomach.

One bystander jumped in to guide the children away from the violence while a colleague of the victim tried to provide first aid. Paramedics took over when they arrived and rushed the woman to a hospital in critical condition. She died in the hospital.

The injured perpetrator was also taken to a hospital, where the police arrested him.

According to locals, the victim and perpetrator were originally from Drenthe and they had a very turbulent relationship. The police had to intervene multiple times. The man allegedly harassed his ex frequently in recent weeks.

A spokesperson for De Kameleon refused to comment to the broadcaster. “We do not answer questions. As you can imagine, this has a lot of impact on us.”