Military police officer killed by burglars in Curaçao, child and wife were present

The Dutch military police officer in Curaçao who was killed in an armed home robbery was shot dead by burglars, the local police announced on Saturday morning (local time).

The 49-year-old officer was sitting with his wife on the terrace of their house on Reigerweg late on Friday evening when they heard a noise. The military police officer went to check, and shortly afterwards, the wife heard a shot. Three men, some of them masked, then entered the house. One of the three men had a firearm in his hand. They threatened the woman, who then handed over money and car keys. After further searching the house, they drove off in their car. Any help for the man who had been shot came too late, and the military police officer died on the spot.

A child of the couple was present in the house during the robbery. It is still unclear how the child is doing. The neighbors raised the alarm when they heard the woman screaming for help just before midnight.

The police announced that the car has since been recovered. Police chief Raymond Ellis pointed out they were working hard together with the Netherlands. “We cannot allow this. We cannot tolerate this. Every effort is being made.”

The man was working in Curaçao as part of the reinforcement of border controls at the airport. According to Curacao.nu, he has worked for the military police in Curaçao for 23 years. However, it is not clear whether the home invasion was work-related. The Curaçao police are investigating the incident.

The officer in charge, Heiko de Jong, spoke of a terrible incident. “It shows once again that we have a major problem with illegal firearms, which we are already working hard on. Perhaps this incident will lead to us taking even more serious action against it and increasing the penalties for the illegal possession of firearms.”

Outgoing Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren was "affected" by the message, she wrote on X. "My thoughts go out to his loved ones and colleagues."

Outgoing Justice and Security Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz described the news on X as "very intense. "My thoughts are with his loved ones," she wrote.