Police arrest six children for shooting; 11-year-old victim in critical condition

Police have arrested six suspects after a severely wounded 11-year-old was found in a home in Zuidwijk, Rotterdam, on February 16. The victim had a shot wound and is still in critical condition in the hospital. It was initially unclear whether the wound was due to a knife or a bullet.

Officers arrived on the scene at around 7:30 p.m. after they had received reports about a loud bang inside a nearby home. Police found a firearm outside the home. The victim required resuscitation.

Three of the suspects are boys from Rotterdam. They are aged 12, 13, and 15. One 14-year-old girl from Rotterdam was also arrested. The other two suspects are from Maarsbergen and Enschede. They were arrested on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. They are currently under restrictions.

The suspects will appear in front of the examining magistrate on Thursday and Friday, who will decide whether they will remain detained for a longer period of time. “Each suspect’s individual role in this incident is being investigated,” police said.

What exactly happened in the house in Asterlo is still under investigation. "We are considering a lot of scenarios and are investigating to solve that puzzle," said a police spokesperson. A team of about 20 detectives is investigating the case.