January 17, 2024 at 3:47 pm Update: 41 minutes ago
Victim Support Netherlands will be present on Wednesday and Thursday in the schools attended by the children of the victims of the Weiteveen shooting. Residents of the village of Drenthe, where two people were killed on Tuesday, gather in a church.
A 38-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman were killed in a fiery crash in Weiteveen on Tuesday. Shots were also fired. A 50-year-old man from Klazienaveen was arrested.
Justice confirmed that the case may be linked to a long-standing conflict. According to various media reports, the conflict concerns the sale of a house.
One of the two victims’ children attends Terra Emmen, the other child attends St. Franciscus primary school in Weiteveen. Victim support is available at both schools on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Victim Support Netherlands is present in schools to lend an ear, says a spokesperson for the organisation. Victim Support also explains to students and teachers about stress reactions such as sleep problems. The organization emphasizes that these reactions are part of it.
“We reassure them by explaining to them what a normal reaction to an abnormal event is,” the spokesperson said. Victim Support also collects the names and numbers of anyone in schools who would like individual contact.
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Victim support focuses mainly on teachers and employees
According to the spokesperson, Victim Support focuses primarily on teachers and employees, so that they know how to best deal with their students. According to him, students need to feel safe as soon as possible and the people they are familiar with can best offer this to them.
Coincidentally, students from both schools were free on Wednesday, which allowed Victim Support to pay close attention to the school teams. Terra Emmen had planned an open day, but it was cancelled. The San Francesco School had a study day.
A Terra Emmen employee said students who wanted could come to school to talk about the shooting, either with each other or with victim support. Many students took advantage of this.
The villagers gather in the church
On Wednesday the inhabitants of Weiteveen meet in the Catholic church on Zusterweg. Residents who visit the church are “defeated”, the church council said.
The building opened its doors at 11 am and visitors have not stopped coming in since then. People can talk to the pastor, write in an intention book and light a candle.
The church is open until 4pm, but the council says it will stay open longer if needed. “We are trying to respond as best we can to the situation that has arisen so suddenly and which does not normally occur in a village in Drenthe,” the council says.
2024-01-17 14:47:00
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