Dutch bankruptcy lawyer survives gun attack near his home in Germany

A Dutch lawyer who specialises in bankruptcy law has been shot close to his home just over the border in Germany while out walking his dog.

Philippe Schol, 43, had a practice in Enschede but lived in German town of Gronau. He was fired at from a passing car and was taken to hospital for treatment. His injuries are not life-threatening, but he was hit in the leg by at least one bullet, broadcaster NOS said.

One witness said he heard three shots directed at Schol. The gun was fired from a white car with Dutch number plates which drove off at high speed. According to German police, the car had several occupants.

Website Nu.nl says that the Dutch counter-terrorism unit NCTV was aware of the risk to Schol and that he had been the subject of a risk analysis.

And according to local paper Tubantia, the attack could be linked to complex and acrimonious bankruptcy proceedings surrounding a gym club in the town of Losser.

The attack on Schol is the second on a Dutch lawyer within six weeks. On September 18, criminal law specialist Derk Wiersum was shot dead outside his home in Amsterdam.

He was defending a crown witness in a major drugs and murder trial.