Police respond to reports of a gunman at Utrecht University; no threat found
Utrecht University temporarily locked down buildings at its Uithof campus Friday after two reports of a man carrying a firearm, authorities said. Police responded with a large-scale operation, deploying numerous police and fire vehicles and the Special Intervention Service (Dienst Speciale Interventies, DSI), a special police and military unit. According to RTV Utrecht, the situation was escalated to Grip 1, a crisis protocol involving multiple emergency services.
By shortly after 6:00 p.m., the authorities said the situation had calmed. The suspect was not found, no arrests were made, and no injuries occurred. Police confirmed there were no ongoing threats but said they would continue monitoring campus buildings.
University President Anton Pijpers acknowledged the fear caused by the reports. “Especially when rumors appeared in the media that someone had been seen with a firearm. I can well understand that this may have been frightening for staff and students in the affected buildings,” he said.
Buildings reopened later Friday, and the university praised police for their response. “Police consistently made decisions with everyone’s safety in mind and saw no reason to close additional buildings prematurely or evacuate any areas,” it said.
Support services are available for staff and students. Staff can contact social work services, while students can access guidance through the university’s choice help system.
