Late on Friday night, officers in Sittard discharged their weapons, wounding a 32-year-old man from Nijmegen outside the city’s police station on Stationsplein. According to witnesses, the man ignored repeated verbal commands to stop and appeared to lunge toward the officers before shots were fired.
Sequence of events
- Shortly after midnight, patrol cars spotted a lone individual behaving erratically near the station entrance.
- Officers approached and ordered him to halt; he reportedly brandished an object and advanced on the team.
- A warning shot was allegedly fired into the air, followed by two rounds aimed at the man’s lower body when he continued to move forward.
- The suspect was struck in the thigh and immediately secured at the scene.
Medical response and detainment
Paramedics treated the wounded man on-site before transferring him to a nearby hospital. His injuries are described as non-life-threatening, and he remains in police custody pending questioning. No officers were harmed during the confrontation.
Probe by the national watchdog
The Rijksrecherche, the independent body responsible for investigating incidents involving police, has launched a probe into the use of force. Officials have seized body-camera footage, radio logs and forensic evidence to reconstruct the events leading up to the shooting.
Local reaction and next steps
Residents around Stationsplein expressed shock at the late-night disturbance, while community leaders have called for transparency in the investigation. The public prosecutor’s office has pledged to release interim findings as soon as key witnesses are interviewed and ballistic reports are complete.
Authorities reiterated that officers are trained to use force only when strictly necessary and that all standard procedures will be reviewed. Further updates will be provided once the Rijksrecherche concludes its initial inquiry.