Photographer Cynthia Boll: 'There were people lying everywhere'

 

A car driver has crashed into crowds watching a Dutch royal parade, killing five people, in an attempted attack on the royal family, officials say.

 

The car careered into a monument metres from an open-topped bus carrying Queen Beatrix and members of her family.

 

The royals, who were unharmed, watched in horror as the car ploughed into bystanders in Apeldoorn, about 90km (56 miles) east of Amsterdam.

 

Officials said the 38-year-old driver had suffered life-threatening injurie

 

Prosecutor Ludo Goossens said the man, who is a Dutch national, would be charged with attempting an attack on the royal family and murder - if he survives.

 

"The man indicated that his action was aimed against the royal family," Mr Goossens told journalists in Apeldoorn.

 

After searching the car and his home, investigators ruled out terrorism as a motive and said it appeared he had acted alone.

 

Members of the royal family were shown looking on in horror as the battered car rammed spectators before crashing into the stone monument.

 

In a televised address, Queen Beatrix called the incident shocking, and said everyone would empathise with the victims and their families and friends.

 

"What began as a great day has ended in a terrible tragedy that has shocked us all deeply," she said.

 

"People who were standing close by, people who saw it happen on television, all those who lived through it, must have looked on with bewilderment and disbelief.

 

"We're speechless that something so terrible could have happened."

 

Cynthia Boll, a photographer at the scene, told the BBC the car was already badly damaged before it slammed into the crowds at high speed.

 

"There were people everywhere, you could definitely see that it was serious because everywhere was blood and shoes ripped off and all the people giving CPR," she said.

 

Other witnesses described people being flung into the air as the car crashed through the throngs who had turned out to see the queen.

 

Officials said two men and two women died at the scene of the incident, while another person died later in hospital.

 

The crowds were celebrating Queen's Day - a national holiday in the Netherlands when thousands of people take to the streets to mark the queen's official birthday.

 

Hundreds of police officers were on duty in a huge security operation that took months to plan.

 

But the authorities said they were taken completely by surprise when the small black car smashed through a security fence and into the crowd of people.

 

Following the incident, flags were lowered to half mast on government buildings across the country and all planned celebrations were called off.

 

Witnesses said the streets of Apeldoorn were now deserted.

SOURCE & VIDEO of the attack.

 

What a sad sad day. :cry: :cry:

 

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/30502958#30502958

 

Dutch queen escapes as car crashes into crowd

Five people were killed in Holland when a speeding car ploughed into spectators at a parade in what appeared to be an attempted attack on the Dutch queen.

 

By Nick Squires

Last Updated: 8:56PM BST 30 Apr 2009

 

The vehicle narrowly missed a bus carrying the royal family as it careered into the crowd before hitting a stone monument.

 

The black Suzuki appeared to target the open bus, which was carrying Queen Beatrix and her family through the town of Apeldoorn, about 55 miles from Amsterdam, during the Queen's Day festivities.

 

The driver, a white 38-year-old Dutchman, had reportedly lost his job as a security officer a few months ago and was about to be evicted from his apartment in the town of Huissen, near Utrecht, because he could no longer pay the rent.

 

"He was a normal, polite man who lived a very quiet and secluded life," a neighbour told De Telegraaf newspaper.

 

His car smashed through railings and careered through crowds of people waiting to see the royals, killing four, injuring 14 and sending others running for their lives.

 

Witnesses said the vehicle was travelling at up to 60mph and missed the royal bus by less than 15ft. It eventually slammed into black metal railings at the foot of a stone monument, where it came to a halt, its bonnet crumpled and scraped.

 

Television footage showed members of the royal family, riding in the open top bus, clutch their hands to their mouths in shock as the car sped through a barricade in front of them.

 

Princess Maxima, the wife of the heir to the Dutch throne, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, leapt up in her seat and looked on in horror as the car hurtled through crowds of bystanders.

 

No one in the queen's entourage was injured during the incident, which happened around midday as thousands enjoyed the Spring sunshine.

 

A policeman narrowly escaped injury when he jumped off his bicycle to avoid being hit. One bystander could be seen kneeling over one of the victims, pumping his chest and administering first aid.

 

Journalist Peter von de Vorst told a Dutch television station that witnessing the incident was like watching a disaster film.

 

"It was a really nice day. Then you hear a bang. Everyone looks up and you see people indeed flying through the air. This must be a joke or a strange prank. Then suddenly panic, and you realise that something really terrible has happened," he said.

 

Public prosecutors said they believed the driver had acted intentionally. Prosecutor Ludo Goossens told a press conference: "From initial contact with police before the suspect was removed from the car ... we have reason to believe it was a deliberate action. We have no indication that there is a link to terror (activities)."

 

Investigators used a sniffer dog to examine the car for explosives, then cut off the roof of the car for a closer inspection.

 

The driver, who was slumped against his seat with blood on his forehead, was pulled from the wreckage of the car and then arrested and taken to hospital, where he was due to be treated and questioned.

 

Up to eight of the injured were in a serious condition, hospital officials said.

 

Just hours later, a visibly upset Queen Beatrix issued a message of condolence broadcast on national television channels.

 

She said: "What began as a great day has ended in a terrible tragedy that has shocked us all deeply.

 

"We are speechless that something so terrible could have happened. My family, and I think everybody in the country, sympathise with the victims, their families and friends and all who have been hit so hard by this accident."

 

Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende made a short announcement after the crash. "We are all deeply shocked by the terrible events," he said. "People have been injured, seriously injured, and we must fear worse to come."

 

The Dutch ministry of royal affairs announced the suspension of festivities in Apeldoorn following the incident. Festivities in Rotterdam were also cancelled, while those in Amsterdam were toned down.

 

Hundreds of thousands of Dutch had taken to the streets wearing orange wigs and bizarre hats to celebrate Queen's Day, an annual festival in the Netherlands.

 

It commemorates the birthday of Queen Beatrix's mother, the late Queen Juliana.

 

SOURCE & VIDEO

Edited April 30, 200916 yr by SuuS

I'm quite surprised at this. The general perception in the UK seems to be that Dutch people have a LOT of respect for their queen, moreso than we do for our own. It seems most bizarre that anyone (even someone down on their luck) would exercise their frustration on the Royal Family. Much sympathy for those affected.

I frankly find it rather amazing that it's not being regarded as a "terrorist" attack... I mean, are they just assuming that because he was a Dutch national, and, presumably white....? What if it had been an Asian or a Muslim guy who had undergone the same circumstances with losing his job and home, would the authorities be so quick to rule out "terrorism" as a motive then I wonder..... Worth thinking about innit....?

the guy who did this has died earlier this morning.

now we will never know why he did this.

 

and the dutch DO have a lot of respect for their queen. this was a one man action.

 

and the dutch DO have a lot of respect for their queen. .

 

God knows why, the only good Royal is a dead one in my book..... :rolleyes:

 

What a tragedy, it's headline news down under. They showed a picture on the headlines, and it just showed a couple of the bodies with sheets and the horrified royal party.

 

Shame the man responsible died, should have rotted in a prison cell.

Shame the man responsible died, should have rotted in a prison cell.

 

Yeah, but doesn't it just show what extremes of depression that people are going down to because of the World Wide Web Depression....? I think the guy was probably suffering some sort of psychotic episode or mental breakdown tbh, brought upon by losing his job and his home.....

 

Ironically, had he "rotted in a prison cell", at least he'd've had a roof over his head..... :rolleyes:

 

And it would have been our tax money that would pay for that. Its sad for the people who are injured and for the families who have lost a loved one.

They will never get any answers.

Today the family of the attacker was tracked down but at the moment they dont want to talk to the press. Cannot even imagine what they must

be going through right now.

At the moment they are investigating the security measurements during yesterday's event.

 

On monday the 4th (commemoration day) and tuesday the 5th (liberation day) the royal family WILL make a public appearance despite the drama

that took place yesterday.

 

 

God knows why, the only good Royal is a dead one in my book..... :rolleyes:

 

 

Disgusting comment from anyone on any board, let alone a staff member. :angry:

Disgusting comment from anyone on any board, let alone a staff member. :angry:

 

I completely agree, sorry but that was very inappropriate.

 

This was very shocking, you only had to see the reactions of the royals to see how awful it was. I'm surprised the car was able to get to the crowds like that, though I can't imagine the Dutch are quite as paranoid as Brits about this sort of thing. RIP to those who lost their lives.

Shocking! I mean.. this is so tragic!

Disgusting comment from anyone on any board, let alone a staff member. :angry:

 

Dont give a toss tbh.. I've have ALWAYS been Anti-Monarchy, and always will be, it's a principle for me, why should these bloody people be afforded privelege and deferrence simply through an accident of birth....? Should I now suddenly pretend to give a sh!t about some bunch of Royals in another country....? Bugger off, that'd make me an absolute hypocrite... Chris, dont pretend that if someone attempted to assassinate Tony Blair or Gordon Brown that would suddenly make you all pro-Labour Party..... So, same principle for me innit...?

 

It's unfortunate that innocent people had to get caught up in it, but, put it this way, if the would-be assassin had gone after the individual Royal with, say, a sniper rifle and hit the right target, I wouldn't care less, it would be one less aristocrat in the world.....

Was a sad day in Dutch history :(

 

Horrible how someone can do something like this...

Horrible how someone can do something like this...

 

Not really, assassinations and attempted assassinations of monarchs and royals have gone on all throughout history, this is nothing new tbh.... They used to kill each other by the truckload back in the day...... :lol:

 

 

Aww thats really heartbreaking.

 

 

lynda. :heart:

Dont give a toss tbh.. I've have ALWAYS been Anti-Monarchy, and always will be, it's a principle for me, why should these bloody people be afforded privelege and deferrence simply through an accident of birth....? Should I now suddenly pretend to give a sh!t about some bunch of Royals in another country....? Bugger off, that'd make me an absolute hypocrite... Chris, dont pretend that if someone attempted to assassinate Tony Blair or Gordon Brown that would suddenly make you all pro-Labour Party..... So, same principle for me innit...?

 

It's unfortunate that innocent people had to get caught up in it, but, put it this way, if the would-be assassin had gone after the individual Royal with, say, a sniper rifle and hit the right target, I wouldn't care less, it would be one less aristocrat in the world.....

Have to agree, as horrible as this story is. Being born under the royal family is literally your own death wish

There are plenty of rebellious/unstable/vicious beings out there who won't be able to tolerate not being equal with another and thus why assinations happen in the first place.

Gandhi was killed because of how he tried to make a collaboration of religions in India and as a result, strong-minded religious groups took this the wrong way and wanted one main religion group in India and saw killing Gandhi as the only way to stop this, in their eyes, 'unacceptable initiative' ..

The same goes for monarchies, there's always going to be a bunch of strong-minded and demented anti-royalty types of people out there to make assinations happen etc

And I'd honestly prefer if monarchies were done and dusted with now, it's only for the better - less depressive headlining news like this and a minor step to a slightly more perfect and equal world ..

And I'd honestly prefer if monarchies were done and dusted with now, it's only for the better - less depressive headlining news like this and a minor step to a slightly more perfect and equal world ..

 

Same here tbh... Monarchies served a function several hundred years ago, granted, same as "Tribal Chiefs", but we've MOVED ON, EVOLVED past the need for monarchs to tell us what to do by and large... And in these "constitutional monarchies" what the hell do they do...? Their role is 100% CEREMONIAL... WTF is the point of that....???? People who use the "tourism" argument are similarly talking sh!te.... The Palace of Versailles in France gets MORE tourism that Buckingham Palace, with the added bonus of NOT having a bunch of royal parasites getting in the way...... :rolleyes: Nobody is saying "tear the palaces down", we're only saying "evict the royal scum and consign them to the dustbin of history"..... Turn all the palaces into museums of history, etc, and charge tourists an arm and a leg to visit them..... :lol: We ARE living in a recession you know....... :rolleyes:

 

Areas like the royal family and gay rights / gay marriages / gay adoptions are where I differ strongly from my party, the tory party and its members are strongly pro monarchy whereas I am dead against it and think it serves no purpose whatsover

sadly another victim passed away. her daughter was released on friday but she didnt make it :(