Second suspect arrested after man in wheelchair set on fire in Utrecht

The police have detained a second suspect in the case involving a man in a wheelchair who was set on fire in Utrecht. The latest arrest concerns a 55-year-old man. A 37-year-old suspect was taken into custody earlier on Tuesday, shortly after the incident occurred.

The incident took place on Tuesday afternoon at Smaragdplein in Utrecht, where a 69-year-old man in an electric wheelchair was set on fire. He suffered severe injuries to his head, back, and arms and was later moved from the hospital to a specialist burn centre that same evening.

“Thanks to decisive action by several bystanders, the fire was quickly extinguished,” the police said. They removed the man from his wheelchair and placed him on the ground while others called emergency services. Anyone who witnessed the incident, which took place around 3:30 p.m., is asked to contact Victim Support Netherlands.

Police believe the people involved may be known to each other and that the incident could be linked to a mutual dispute. This is still under investigation.

According to local residents, the victim is a familiar face in the Smaragdplein area and was often seen near the entrance of a nearby supermarket. Police have not released further personal details about the man beyond his age and condition.

The mayor said she was shocked by the incident, describing it as “horrific.” She added that its impact is especially severe because the victim was unable to move away or escape, according RTV Utrecht.

The day after the incident, local residents placed flowers at the site out of sympathy for the victim.