The shootings began on 28 September 2023 at around 14:10 CEST, when the Rotterdam-Rijnmond safety region received reports of a fire and explosions at a residence on the Heiman Dullaertplein in Delfshaven, Rotterdam.

[9] He was identified by Dutch authorities as Fouad L., a student of the Erasmus University medical school, and had previously been convicted of animal cruelty.

An email sent by the Dutch public prosecution service to the teaching hospital that he attended which described this behavior, was posted by the suspect to an online forum.

[11] Classes were canceled at Erasmus University Medical Center and students were invited to gather near the building involved to hold a memorial and mourn.

[10] Rotterdam's mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb called the incidents a "pitch-black day" for the city, while outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte expressed his condolences to those affected.