Gunman kills two in Dutch shopping mall

A GUNMAN opened fire at a Dutch shopping mall yesterday, killing at least two people and wounding several others.

The Dutch national broadcaster quoted the government as saying that at least two people were killed at the Ridderhof mall in the Dutch town of Alphen aan den Rijn, 13 miles south-west of Amsterdam.

But the city government issued a statement saying it could not yet confirm the number of victims.

"There are dead and wounded; the number cannot yet be determined," the statement said. "The mall has been cleared and a wide area around it is cordoned off."

A witness identified as Maart Verbeek said the attacker had a machine gun and that he had seen at least five people he believed were killed and numerous people wounded at the mall.

Police said they could not immediately comment on the incident.