A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the death of several patients at the Wilhelmina Ziekenhuis in Assen during the coronavirus pandemic, the public prosecution department said on Thursday.

According to the AD, which has spoken to relatives of one of the victims, up to 24 patients may be involved. The man, a nurse, worked on a specialist lung ward, the paper said.

The man, who was picked up on Monday, worked at the hospital during the pandemic. He was remanded in custody on Thursday and may only have contact with his lawyer.

The public prosecutor said the arrest followed a police investigation sparked by a formal report from the hospital. As yet, it is unclear exactly what officials think happened, and the investigation is proceeding with the ‘utmost care’, the prosecution office said.

Police say relatives of those involved have been informed but that no further information can be made public at the present time.

The hospital says on its website that the investigation covers the period March 2020 to May 2022 and that the hospital board has been ‘shocked’ by the arrest of a member of staff.

The investigation began after a report was made to the hospital board which merited immediate action. The nurse was then suspended pending further investigation.

‘People who have questions about whether their relatives were killed should contact the police,’ the hospital said. ‘Currently we do not know which patients are involved in the criminal investigation.’