Bio

Fouad Lakhlili was born on 11 February 1991 in Utrecht. He later lived in Rotterdam.

He studied medicine at Erasmus University Medical Center as a medical student. The university required him to undergo a psychological evaluation before he could receive his medical degree. The Public Prosecution Service had raised concerns about his suitability for the degree.

He had a prior conviction for animal cruelty. Neighbors said they had reported repeated worrying behavior to the police, and that when police came the curtains were closed and he would not open the door.

An email from the Public Prosecution Service about his behavior was posted by him to an online forum. On that forum he described himself as an alcoholic and said he was unable to finish his degree because teachers were "sabotaging" him.

Murder Story

On 28 September 2023, two shootings took place in Rotterdam. The first was at a residence on Heiman Dullaertplein. Reports came in around 14:10 of a fire and explosions, later believed to be gunfire. A 39-year-old mother was killed in the house. Her 14-year-old daughter was seriously injured and later died.

By 14:25, police had also received reports of a shooting at the Erasmus University Medical Center. The shooting happened in a building used as an education center for medical students on Rochussenstraat. A 43-year-old general practitioner and teacher at the Faculty of Medicine was fatally shot. Part of the hospital was set on fire during the attack.

The suspect left the Erasmus Medical Center at about 15:30 wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying a gun. Police took him into custody under the hospital helipad. He was identified as 32-year-old Fouad Lakhlili, born 11 February 1991 in Utrecht and living in Rotterdam. He was a student at the Erasmus University medical school and had a previous conviction for animal cruelty.

Prosecutors said the Public Prosecution Service had sent a warning to the hospital that described signs of psychotic behavior. Neighbors said there had been repeated reports to police about his behavior, but officers found the curtains closed and he did not open his door. Lakhlili posted the email from the Public Prosecution Service to an online forum. In that forum he described himself as an alcoholic and said teachers had been "sabotaging" him.

Erasmus University had required him to undergo a psychological evaluation before he could receive a medical degree. The Public Prosecution Service had raised concerns about whether he was suitable to receive the degree.

On 21 February 2025, Fouad Lakhlili was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the shootings. Classes were canceled at the Erasmus University Medical Center, and students were invited to gather near the building for a memorial and to mourn. Rotterdam's mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb called the incidents a "pitch-black day" for the city. Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister of Justice and Security Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius expressed condolences and thanked the emergency services for their actions.