A husband and wife have been shot dead and a man arrested in the Netherlands today following a bitter row over a house the couple had purchased with ‘numerous flaws’.
The victims – a Polish man aged 50 and a Dutch woman aged 44 – were found dead in the village of Weiteveen in Drenthe, near the border with Germany at 8.45am with the suspect – a 50-year-old man – arrested at the scene.
According to local reports, the double murder followed a year-long campaign of threats made by the couple to a Dutchman who sold them a home which they felt had numerous flaws – eventually driving him ‘crazy’.
Unverified footage circulating online shows a man admitting to the crime and talking about being harassed by the couple for a year.
Dutch media reports that an estate agent involved in the acrimonious sale had tried to mediate in the row over structural failings to the house.
A video circulated on social media purporting to show the suspect in an emotional state
At around 8.45am the police received a report of a violent incident in Weiteveen. Officers at the scene determined that there were shots fired during the incident. Pictured: Emergency services at the scene
According to local residents, the fatalities are the buyers of a house: a Polish man and his Dutch wife.
The man was said to have been shot dead in front of the home.
His wife reportedly tried to flee in her car, but fell off the road – possibly in part due to the slippery conditions – and was then also gunned down, Dutch daily morning newspaper De Telegraaf reports. The police have not confirmed this account.
A video was released on Facebook purporting to show the suspect, who appears to be ranting in an emotional state. Another video appears to show the arrest of the same man.
He says in the livestream that ‘something bad has happened’ because of ‘harassment’ and claims he had to do something to protect his family, RTL Nieuws reports.
RTL News said the police told them that they are aware of the images circulating on social media and that they are investigating them.
A reporter from RTV Drenthe was also informed by villagers that the suspect and the victims know each over the sale of a house.
According to various sources, the man was allegedly involved in a conflict with another man from Poland, De Telegraaf reports. The conflict is said to be about the sale of a property.
Data from the land registry shows that the suspect sold the home exactly one year ago to a man with a Polish name and a woman with a Dutch name, the publication reports.
Both are said to be from Velsen-Zuid, residents of Weiteveen said. They also said that the couple has a son who is around 10 years old.
Real estate agent Bart Beukema from Veenoord confirmed to De Telegraaf that he was involved in the sale.
He said he was aware that a conflict had arisen over the sale and that this had been ongoing, but he said he was shocked by the dramatic events of today.
‘I was surprised by this. Too bizarre for words,’ he said.
‘I can’t say much about it substantively. The conflict concerns construction matters. Unbelievable that it led to this.’
The argument was known to residents of Weiteveen and, according to them, had taken place since September last year, De Telegraaf reports.
A forensic team at the home in Weiteveen in the Netherlands where a shooting took place today
Richard, who shares two adult children with his wife, and who is known to residents in his village as a man ‘who wouldn’t hurt a fly’, is said to have complained about threats on several occasions.
‘This was coming,’ according to a man from Weiteveen, who said he was aware of the conflict.
A second video of a woman has now also emerged online. According to the publication, she says in the video while crying: ‘Well, you have seen Richard’s video.’
The woman says there has been a conflict surrounding the sale of a property and that Richard is her partner. Their children are said to have been threatened seriously.
She said: ‘They have provoked us to the core.’
According to the woman, she attempted to change her husband’s mind and leave the matter to the police.
She said: ‘But Richard has gone completely crazy. He went there. And the Pole probably threatened him with a gun or something. I don’t know, I wasn’t there of course.
‘As usual, I was so dutiful and went to work. And I hear at work that Richard went there and that he probably shot those people.’
Jose van Gijssel of the Northern Netherlands police said. ‘Deceased persons were found in two places. At a home and in a vehicle.
‘There is currently no other suspect in the picture other than the man who has been arrested.’ According to the police, the suspect is from Klazienaveen. The police have not yet released any information about the identities of the victims.’
Residents of Weiteveen tell De Telegraaf that Richard lives in the village, but that he and his wife have been separated for a period.
Richard is said to have temporarily moved in to his mother’s house in Klazienaveen and it is possible that he is still registered there, the publication reports.
The mayor of the municipality of Emmen, which includes Weiteveen, says on X that he has been informed about a violent incident in Weiteveen which resulted in two deaths and understands ‘the emotions that arise as a result of this terrible incident’.
He also expresses his condolences to the relatives and notes that the investigation is ongoing.