Cyclist taken to hospital after being shot at with gel blaster by group on fat bikes

Two cyclists sustained injuries on Saturday in Dordrecht after they were shot with a gel blaster by two young people on fatbikes, the police reported on Tuesday. A man, aged 21, was forced to go to the hospital with serious injuries. He has now been released from the hospital.

The incident occurred at around 9 p.m. on the Dubbeldamseweg Zuid. An argument with two boys and two girls on fatbikes led to the man and 22-year-old woman falling off their bicycles, according to Rijnmond.

The police are investigating what led to the argument. No arrests have been made as of yet.

A gel blaster is used to shoot small balls of gel. It is a type of toy gun. The items have been compared to paintball guns in the past.

They are allowed to be used in the Netherlands if they have a European safety certificate, but it is not permitted to threaten or shoot at people with gel blasters. They are also banned if they look too similar to a real gun.

Fatbikes have been a much-discussed topic in the Netherlands. Parliament approved a motion for a 14-year-old age limit and a helmet obligation for the fatbikes a year ago, but it has since been reported that enforcing these new laws is proving to be very challenging. It was reported a week ago that police were investigating reports of young people hitting people while riding past on their fatbikes in Meppel.