According to reports, the male assailant, aged 32, discharged a firearm within a residential property prior to igniting it, thereafter proceeding to forcefully enter the Erasmus Medical Center in the city on Thursday.
The individual in question was enrolled as a student at Erasmus University, an educational institution that maintains an affiliation with the hospital.
In the initial incident, a female individual aged 39 and her adolescent daughter, aged 14, tragically lost their lives as a result of gunfire. A male educator, aged 43, was fatally shot at the hospital.
Video evidence has surfaced depicting an individual attired in camouflage garments being escorted from the premises of a medical facility while restrained by handcuffs. The instant knowledge of the motives behind the attack was lacking.
According to a security guard who claims to have been the initial responder, he described the day as "shocking" in an interview with the BBC.
The individual, visibly disturbed and expressing a reluctance to disclose their identity, described the situation as highly distressing, emphasizing its severity by repeating the term "terrible."
According to his statement, the perpetrator did not gain access to the medical facility via the primary entrance.
In a social media statement, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte expressed his condolences to the victims of the violent incidents, their families, and all individuals who have experienced significant distress.
During a press conference following the incident on Thursday, law enforcement officials in Rotterdam stated that the individual responsible for the shooting, whose identity has not been disclosed to the public, was already familiar to them. Two years ago, he was found guilty of committing acts of animal cruelty.
According to the authorities, there were no discernible signs of an additional perpetrator.
During the onset of the shooting incident at the medical center, personnel were observed evacuating the premises alongside patients, a portion of whom were being transported on stretchers.
Two hospital windows were observed with signs affixed on them, with the inscription: "Room 32." We are unable to exit the current location.
According to Barak, a 27-year-old Israeli student, he was engaged in a job interview at the time the shooting incident commenced, as reported by the BBC. Upon his emergence, the situation became alarming due to the presence of numerous sirens and the influx of messages.
He further expressed astonishment at the fact that the individual responsible for the action in question was a fellow student.
According to a fellow student who spoke to the RTL Nieuws website, an incident involving gunfire occurred first on the fourth level. A total of four or five gunshots were discharged. Subsequently, an incendiary device known as a Molotov cocktail was deliberately launched into the premises of the educational facility.
Prior to his apprehension, law enforcement authorities stated that the individual under suspicion, characterized by his dark hair and tall stature, was potentially utilizing a motorcycle as a means of transportation. Additionally, he was observed carrying a bag, headphones, and a firearm while attired in battle gear.
SOURCE - BBC