Netherlands’ defense minister expressed serious concern over American gun violence after one Dutch commando was killed and two other soldiers were wounded in a shooting incident in Indiana over the weekend.
The three Dutch soldiers, who were in the US for urban warfare training, were wounded in Indianapolis on Saturday. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said that the soldiers were targeted in a drive-by shooting while they were returning to their downtown hotel after a scuffle at a nearby bar.
Calling the incident very concerning, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren stressed on Tuesday that Amsterdam is eagerly awaiting the results of the police investigation into the shooting that led to the death of a Dutch commando.
Refusing to further comment on the matter, Ollongren only pointed out that the Netherlands does many trainings of its servicemen in the United States and didn’t expect this to happen.
Noting that there is good contact between Dutch military police and Indianapolis authorities, Ollongren declined to comment on the shooting while investigations continue.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin contacted Ollongren on Monday to express his regrets and his condolences.
According to the Dutch Defense Ministry’s release, the killed soldier Simmie Poetsema, was one of the three members of the Korps Commandotroepen (KCT), the Royal Dutch Army’s elite unit, that were in Indiana for training at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center.
According to the Indiana National Guard, the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center is a 405-hectare complex about 110 kilometers southeast of Indianapolis.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said that one man, 22-years old Shamar Duncan of Indianapolis, was arrested on a preliminary charge of murder in connection with the shooting and will not be eligible for release from jail while the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office reviews the case.
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