Belgian teen arrested for threatening school shootings in Breda
A Belgian minor was arrested early Monday morning for allegedly threatening school shootings in Breda, Netherlands. The arrest took place around 1 a.m., following an investigation into messages that circulated on social media over the weekend.
The threats, which emerged Sunday afternoon, specifically mentioned three Breda schools: Onze Lieve Vrouwelyceum, Newman College, and Mencia de Mendoza Lyceum. The messages, shared on Snapchat, included a photo of a pistol and bullets, accompanied by the text, "Everyone is going to die."
Police identified a suspect—a minor from Belgium—on Sunday evening but assured the public that there was no immediate danger. “At this moment, we do not expect any threat from the suspect,” a police spokesperson said. Authorities arrested the suspect a few hours later and are investigating her exact involvement in the threats.
The overarching organization for the affected schools, Libréon, informed parents on Sunday evening. “The police have assured us there is no reason for concern. It appears to be copycat behavior,” the organization wrote in a letter. On Monday, all three schools opened as scheduled.
A source close to the investigation described the situation to De Telegraaf as “the tip of the iceberg.” In addition to Breda, similar threats have recently been reported in Amsterdam, Nijmegen, and South Holland. In Amsterdam, at least ten schools in West and Nieuw-West received threats, prompting close monitoring by local authorities.
While some threats are attributed to students attempting to avoid exams or settle disputes, others may have political motives. According to the Telegraaf, multiple sources say that some threats reference pro-Palestinian slogans, such as “Free the P,” which stands for “Free the Palestinians.” Investigators are exploring potential links between these threats and activist groups.
Authorities have reiterated that issuing threats, even as a prank, is a criminal offense. “We take school threats very seriously,” a police spokesperson said. “This is not a joke, particularly considering the context of school shootings in countries like the United States. These actions create unnecessary fear and anxiety for students, teachers, and administrators.”
Police and school safety organizations have called for vigilance in monitoring online behavior. They also encouraged students to report suspicious activities and avoid sharing unverified information to prevent panic.
