One Dead and Two Officers Injured in Major Shooting in Overasselt

A shooting in the Dutch village of Overasselt left one man dead and two police officers injured on Tuesday morning. The incident began around 4:00 a.m. when police responded to a report of a burglary and encountered a violent scene. Two officers were wounded during the event, though police stated their injuries are not life threatening. A large scale police operation followed, involving helicopters and masked officers who searched gardens and cornfields. The village was largely cordoned off, and the local primary school was closed. Police later reported a large number of arrests.

Security footage obtained by De Telegraaf shows dozens of masked men, some carrying firearms, moving through the village. One resident reported hearing 37 shots before police arrived. The location of the shooting has a history of drug related activity. In 2019, a drug lab was dismantled on the property, and the house was shot at with an AK 47 last year. Residents noted that a security car was frequently stationed in front of the home. One report suggests the violence may be linked to the seizure of 812 kilograms of drugs at the Spanish French border the previous Saturday.

Government officials condemned the attack. Minister for Justice and Security David van Weel stated that such violence would not be tolerated, while Mayor Joerie Minses described the events as completely unacceptable.