Dutch police were in involved in seven shooting incidents in which people were killed or injured in the first six months of this year, broadcaster RTL said on Monday.

Three people died and four were injured in the shootings. While the total number of shootings is well down on previous years, the death toll is the same as in both 2018 and 2017 as a whole.

In 2018 as a whole, the police investigated 27 shootings, involving three deaths. All incidents in which police use their guns, resulting in death or injury, are formally investigated.

In one of the three deadly incidents, police shot a 50-year-old man who tried to escape and drove a car at an officer. In the second incident, now thought to be a ‘suicide by cop’ shooting, a 31-year-old man aimed a gun at police officers outside the Dutch central bank. The gun turned out to be fake.

The third incident took place in Etten-Leur when police shot a 57-year-old man who was threatening people with an axe. He died of his injuries in hospital.