Shooting and explosion rock Rotterdam’s Oud-Mathenesse; shooting suspect arrested

A shooting and an explosion hours later disrupted the quiet of the Franselaan in Rotterdam’s Oud-Mathenesse neighborhood overnight, according to police reports. While no injuries were reported in either incident, the events caused significant property damage and have left residents shaken. A man was arrested in connection with the shooting, though details about his involvement remain unclear.

The first incident occurred around 1 a.m. Saturday when gunfire erupted on Franselaan. Responding officers found shell casings at the scene, but no one was injured.

A few hours later, an explosion tore through an apartment building on the same street, destroying several front doors in the stairwell. Again, no injuries were reported, but residents of the affected homes were evacuated by the fire department and temporarily relocated by the municipality.

Police are investigating both incidents and have yet to establish a connection between them. So far, no additional arrests have been made.

Franselaan has seen repeated violence in recent years. In spring 2021, a Polish store on the street was targeted in two shootings. More recently, explosions were reported in June and September 2023. Police have not determined whether these past events are related to the latest incidents.