Dutch news in brief, 15 February 2006

Police shoot man in town hall

Police shot and injured a man in Bladel, North Brabant Province on Wednesday morning. The man was allegedly brandishing a knife in the town hall and was shot when trying to flee. He came earlier to the town hall to demand officials put an official stamp on a statement to confirm he was not getting the necessary help “should anything happen”. Officials refused to give him the declaration and he returned later with the knife. A civil servant took him to a private room for a discussion and the shooting incident happen as he was leaving the room.

Staff unwell after coolant leak

Twenty employees of a supermarket in Coevorden in Drenthe reported feeling ill on Tuesday. Two people were taken to hospital with breathing difficulties, dizziness and nausea. The Fire Brigade said the problem was caused by leaking coolant. The supermarket was open for business again on Wednesday.

Somali children ‘trafficked for benefits’

Human traffickers smuggle young children from Somalia to the Netherlands to claim child benefit allowance, television programme ‘Network’ reported on Tuesday. Once the children become too expensive, they are returned to Somalia. Many cannot settle back into life in the African country and apply to return to the Netherlands. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed 20 Dutch-speaking young people have contacted the Dutch embassy in the Ethiopian capital Addis Abeba about this in the last six months.

Conditional support for splitting energy firms

Dutch MPs said they would support controversial plans to separate energy concerns into two separate firms – one for production/supply activities and the other for grid operations – as long as a new independent study proves this will not lead to higher power prices. MPs discussed the new legislation in a marathon 12 hour session on Monday. Economic Affairs Minister Laurens Jan Brinkhorst said he hoped to to present the results of the new survey within four weeks. This will examine all the financial advantages and disadvantages of splitting up energy concerns.

Justice negligent with victims’ organs

Justice officials are very negligent in the way human remains of victims are dealt with after autopsies, four Belgian professors who studied the process have claimed. Their findings support claims made by the family of Denise Schouten (21) who died in mysterious circumstances in 1999. Her parents received a pot that contained the remains of seven different people, including the heart of an elderly man. The family is seeking EUR 1 million damages from the Justice Ministry.

Subject: Dutch news