Two dead after stabbing at psychiatric clinic

An employee was killed in a stabbing at a psychiatric clinic in Balkbrug (Overijssel) on Saturday. The perpetrator, a patient, subsequently took his own life. That reports the Correctional Institutions Service (DJI).

Two other employees of the Center for Transcultural Psychiatry Veldzicht were injured and transported to a hospital. It is not known what exactly happened. According to the DJI, after the stabbing incident, the patient locked himself in a separate room and started a fire there, which was extinguished by sprinklers. Then he committed suicide.

Wouter Boogaard of the clinic says in a reaction to be “shocked and defeated” by “this sad event”. The clinic’s staff and patients receive aftercare. On Twitter Minister Franc Weerwind (Legal Protection, D66) also says that he is shocked. “Deeds with indelible consequences. My condolences go out to the relatives and all DJI colleagues.”

Veldzicht treats people who have complex psychiatric problems. Many of them have a different cultural background.