Van kills one at Dutch music festival, driver turns himself in

A van struck four people at the Netherlands’ largest music festival in the early hours of Monday, killing one of them and injuring the others before driving off, police said.
  • Suspected IS-inspired suicide bombers attack Indonesian churches
  • Toronto van attack suspect due in court on Tuesday

Officers said it was not clear whether the van driver, who later turned himself in to the police, had hit the group at the Pinkpop event intentionally or by accident.

Prosecutor Daniele Weymar said at a press conference the suspect, a 34-year-old Dutchman from the city of Heerlen, not far from the concert, had called police himself and was taken into custody in Amsterdam, 220 km (140 miles) to the north.

Police is seen near an incident scene where a van struck into people after a concert in Landgraaf, the Netherlands June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen
Police is seen near an incident scene where a van struck into people after a concert in Landgraaf, the Netherlands June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

The victims, three men and a woman, were all from either Heerlen or neighboring Landgraaf, where the concert took place. The fatal victim was a 35-year-old man from Heerlen.

The white van struck the concert-goers around 4 a.m. (0200 GMT), police said, four hours after the headline act, R&B artist Bruno Mars, had performed in front of 70,000 people.

“This investigation is still underway and we cannot say whether this was something intentional or an accident,” said police spokesman Hub Haenen.

Militants have driven vehicles into crowds of people in attacks in London, Berlin, Barcelona and other European cities in recent years.

Pinkpop is held in Landgraaf, a small town near the German and Belgian borders. A sold-out crowd came to see Pearl Jam, the Foo Fighters and others. Mars closed the three-day-festival shortly before midnight.

A police statement said the street where the incident took place, one of two exits from the concert grounds, had been closed for forensic investigation.

Reuters

Other News

Cambodia ranked world's top country for natural environment in 2026

Cambodia ranked world's top country for natural environment in 2026

Cambodia currently manages 73 protected natural areas covering more than seven million hectares, equivalent to about 41% of the country’s total land area. These protected areas play a vital role in forest conservation, wildlife habitat protection and biodiversity preservation through stricter law enforcement and conservation measures.

ASEAN chief spotlights Vietnam’s role in shaping bloc’s future

ASEAN chief spotlights Vietnam’s role in shaping bloc’s future

Vietnam is expected to maintain active contributions across ASEAN’s three pillars - the political-security community, the economic community, and the socio-cultural community; while further enhancing regional connectivity through infrastructure projects and stronger economic linkages.

Vietnam supports UNESCO's people-centred approach, multilateral cooperation: official

Vietnam supports UNESCO's people-centred approach, multilateral cooperation: official

Van affirmed Vietnam’s support for the UNESCO80 reform roadmap, focusing on the organisation’s core mandate, priority areas, interdisciplinary approach, and the special status of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, and UNESCO representative offices, alongside efforts to diversify resources and strengthen global partnerships to enhance the organisation’s effectiveness.

Regional media highlight significant step in Vietnam’s leadership structure

Regional media highlight significant step in Vietnam’s leadership structure

Under General Secretary and President Lam’s leadership, Vietnam is expected to maintain a balanced foreign policy, strengthen its regional standing and accelerate economic development, thereby improving living standards and creating new opportunities for international investors, according to the India-based platform Devdiscourse.

Laos identifies 10 key tasks to build independent, self-reliant economy

Laos identifies 10 key tasks to build independent, self-reliant economy

Laos will step up agricultural production to ensure food security, meet domestic demand and expand exports; encourage the development of agro-processing industries, including those related to rubber, aquatic products, cassava and sugarcane, as well as fertiliser and animal feed production, in order to increase added value and create jobs in rural areas.

Malaysia steps up cyber security resilience

Malaysia steps up cyber security resilience

To ensure accountability, Malaysia plans to finalise the Cybercrime Bill this year which addresses both cyber-dependent and cyber-enabled offences, introducing stricter penalties and prison terms to enhance deterrence.