A fatal shooting near the NDSM ferry dock in Amsterdam-Noord has left one person dead and another person in custody, according to police.
The shooting happened shortly after 3:05 p.m. Friday on the NDSM-Kade, a busy waterfront area along the IJ River. The area was crowded at the time, with many people enjoying the sunny weather and visiting the cafes and ferry terminal.
A large emergency response was quickly dispatched to the scene, with police officers and paramedics arriving within minutes. Authorities cordoned off the ferry dock and an area to the west while investigators worked to establish what happened and search for a weapon.
The victim was an employee of Justitieel Complex Zaanstad, a correctional facility located less than 15 kilometers from the scene. The death was confirmed by the Dutch correctional institutions agency, DJI.
The shooting comes shortly after authorities disclosed that another employee at JC Zaanstad had been summarily dismissed following an investigation into the alleged smuggling of a substantial quantity of drugs into the prison. DJI said the investigation began after a tip was received and a drug-sniffing dog was used during a search. Authorities subsequently filed a report with police.
Police have not disclosed whether the prison employee’s death was connected to the separate drug-smuggling investigation. A possible motive for Friday’s shooting has not been released, and the identity of the suspect has not been made public.
Authorities are asking witnesses to come forward and are seeking camera footage that may help investigators reconstruct the incident. Police have also asked people not to share potentially relevant footage on social media.
The NDSM-Werf ferry temporarily used Distelweg as an alternative stop during the response. Ferry services were otherwise reported to be operating without major disruption later in the afternoon.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the circumstances and motive behind the fatal shooting.
