Amsterdam mayor closes diner after four gun attacks in a week

A residential square in northern Amsterdam has been rocked after four shootings targeting local business premises in the space of a week.

A fishmonger on Waterlandplein was attacked for the second time on Saturday evening, six days after it was damaged in the first shooting on August 12. Nobody was hurt in the incidents.

A neighbouring diner came under fire on Wednesday and Friday evening, prompting acting city mayor Hester van Buren to shutter the premises for six months.

Police believe the diner was the real target of the shootings while the fishmonger, which has remained open, was fired at mistakenly. But in the last attack the window of the fishmonger’s shop was struck by at least 10 bullets.

“At the moment I am not prepared to take any further risks,” said Van Buren, adding that the safety of the neighbourhood took priority.

The square is located in a suburb on the north side of the capital, between the river IJ and the A10 ring road.

Local residents were mystified by the sudden eruption of violence. “I don’t get it,” one man told local news broadcaster AT5. “It’s a very quiet area and then we get this.”

In a statement issued after Wednesday’s attack, the city council said Van Buren had decided to close the cafe for the safety of local residents after consulting police.

“The shootings at the premises pose a serious threat to the safety of local residents and passers-by,” the council said. “People could have been hurt in this incident, especially given the fact that there are people living above the diner. The fact that the premises are located in a busy shopping area is also relevant.”