Rotterdam police are investigating the suicide earlier this week of two teenagers from the same school, to see if there is a link between them.
The teenagers, a boy aged 16 and a girl aged 14, died on Monday and Tuesday close to a block of flats in Capelle aan den IJssel, on the edge of the port city.
“We have been deeply affected by these sad events, involving two pupils from the Emmaus College,” said local education chief Said Kasmi. “Our thoughts go out to parents, fellow pupils, teachers and everyone who has been affected.”
Capelle aan den IJssel mayor Joost Manusama said that “words can’t express” the impact of the tragedy. “Out of respect for the families… we will not make any further announcements and would ask others not to speculate.”
The school itself has warned parents by email that some children recorded the deaths on their phones and have placed them online, the Telegraaf reported. The email asks parents to check their children’s phones and to remove any images of “these terrible events”.
A neighbourhood police officer who was at the scene said on Instagram that he was shocked at how quickly youngsters took out their phones.
“Someone is lying there fighting for their life and you think it necessary to film them, and then, even worse, place it online,” he wrote. “Think about what you are doing. That image hides a person, a family and real emotion.”
More deaths
Statistics suggest an average of 26 young people under the age of 30 are committing suicide every month in the Netherlands. In 2014, 212 young people ended their own lives compared to 299 10 years later, figures from statistics agency CBS show.
The number of girls and young women who kill themselves is also growing, although more men than women commit suicide.
Anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts can call or chat anonymously by calling the helpline 113, or 0800-0113 or online at 113.nl.
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.
We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.
Make a donation
