The nurse shot dead outside a hospital in Waalwijk on Monday had made ‘multiple’ reports to the police of being threatened, police said on Tuesday.

They refused to comment on the nature of the threats, saying the investigation is ongoing, but local broadcaster Omroep Brabant says Linda van der Giesen’s former boyfriend was the reason. The couple split up four weeks ago, the broadcaster says.

The man is said to be ‘unable to deal with women’ and another ex was told by the police to go into hiding because of the threats made against her, the broadcaster says.

Police said at first they were keeping an open mind about the shooting, which took place after the woman had completed her first shift after a holiday. The nurse had worked in the plastic surgery department at the TweeSteden hospital for five years.