CHURCH SERVICES ARE being held in a quiet Dutch suburb to mourn six people killed by a gunman at a crowded mall, as the investigators puzzle over his motive.
Tristan van der Vlis killed six people and wounded 15 others, including an infant, before shooting himself in the head.
Police are struggling to explain how he was able to obtain and own automatic firearms legally in the Netherlands, where such weapons are widely thought to be banned.
A Durch prosecutor said the 24-year-old shooter had faced an investigation over illegal weapons in 2003 but was not convicted, reports the BBC.
Officials also said he had permits for five weapons although it is not clear if one of them was used in the shooting rampage.
The shooter opened fire in Alphen aan den Rijn on one of the first pleasant Saturdays of spring.
Witnesses said van der Vlis appeared to be shooting at random. He left one suicide note and one threatening note, but neither gave a motive.
Alphen is 30 kilometres southwest of Amsterdam.
- additional reporting from AP
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