2006 Antwerp shooting
| 2006 Antwerp shooting | |
|---|---|
| Location | 51°13′23″N 4°24′15″E / 51.22306°N 4.40417°E Antwerp, Belgium |
| Date | May 11, 2006 |
| Target | People of Non-Belgian Origin |
Attack type | mass shooting,double murder,hate crime |
| Weapon | Marlin 336W .30-30 Winchester Rifle |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Injured | 1 |
| Perpetrator | Hans Van Themsche |
| Motive | Racism |
| Convictions |
|
On 11 May 2006, a shooting occured in the city centre of Antwerp. The gunman, 18-year-old student Hans Van Themsche, killed two people and severely wounded another, before being shot and incapacitated by a police officer. Van Themsche (born 7 February 1988, in Wilrijk, Antwerp, Flemish Region of Belgium) was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2008.
The homicide received widespread media attention and drew major public and political attention to responsibilities regarding political presentation of immigrant and racial issues and its possible effects on individuals.