Dutch Minister Calls Armed Attack in Overasselt Unprecedented

Dutch Minister of Justice David van Weel described a violent attack in the village of Overasselt as unprecedented and new. On Tuesday, dozens of heavily armed men marched through the streets and opened fire on a house and police officers. A 51 year old security guard was shot dead, and two police officers were wounded. In the aftermath, police arrested 34 people from the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Algeria. Minister Van Weel attributed the violence to international drug cartels and mafia groups involved in a suspected criminal settlement.

Reports indicate the attack may be linked to the seizure of 812 kilograms of cocaine at the Spanish French border on Saturday. The armed group allegedly sought retribution from those responsible for the transport. Some reports link the incident to drug baron Jos Leijdekkers, known as Bolle Jos, although his lawyers have strongly denied any involvement and called such claims unfounded.

The targeted property has a history of drug related activity. A drug lab was found there in 2019, and the house was the target of a shooting last year. The residents had hired armed security following these events. During the recent attack, police utilized special forces, drones, and helicopters to apprehend suspects hiding in nearby woods and cornfields. The mayor described the incident as un Dutch, while residents compared the atmosphere to a war zone.