{"id":175084,"date":"2025-01-23T14:06:45","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T13:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=175084"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:39","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:39","slug":"students-hope-for-a-just-verdict-in-trial-of-gunman-fouad-l","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2025\/01\/23\/students-hope-for-a-just-verdict-in-trial-of-gunman-fouad-l\/","title":{"rendered":"Students hope for a ‘fair verdict’ in trial of gunman Fouad L."},"content":{"rendered":"

Students no longer think daily about the horrific shooting incident at Erasmus MC a year and a half ago. But as the trial of Fouad L. approaches, they hope he will receive an ‘appropriate’ punishment.<\/p>\n

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At the Education Centre, construction work is still underway to restore the space to its original state.<\/span><\/p>

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After Fouad L.\u2019s attack roughly 18 months ago, the Education Centre at Erasmus MC \u2013 once an open space with towering bookshelves \u2013 has been transformed into a maze of barriers. Behind the white wall, construction work is still underway to restore the space to its original state.<\/p>\n\t

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On Thursday afternoon, 28 September 2023, the attack at Erasmus MC took place, claiming the life of medical lecturer Jurgen Damen. The suspect, Fouad L., also set fire to the Education Centre and had earlier in the day shot his neighbour and her daughter. This coming Monday, 27 January, Fouad L. will stand trial in the Rotterdam court. The proceedings will continue until 31 January.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

Etched in memory<\/h2>

Although students find themselves in the midst of ongoing construction, it seems to cause them little inconvenience. In one of the study cubicles, second-year student Mehmet is chatting with his group during lunch. At the time of the attack, he was a first-year medical student, just three weeks into his studies. Mehmet realises that the renovation of the Education Centre is a direct consequence of the attack. \u201cOccasionally, you\u2019re reminded of it when you walk around here, but it\u2019s not something I dwell on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018People were jumping out of windows, and along with others who were already outside, I tried to catch them\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

Still, that day is etched in his memory. \u201cI was standing at my locker when I heard a loud bang\u201d, he recalls, pointing towards a hallway with lockers near the entrance. Initially, he thought the sound came from students playing a prank. \u201cBut someone next to me immediately ran away.\u201d When he saw flames and police in riot gear storming in, he understood the gravity of the situation. He ran towards the Museumplein exit, where he tried to assist others. \u201cPeople were jumping out of windows, and along with others who were already outside, I tried to catch them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Support from each other<\/h2>

In the weeks following the attack, students say they relatively quickly felt safe again in the Education Centre. After a few weeks, they were back lounging on the brown sofas by the large windows and grabbing cheese toasties from \u2018t Vat caf\u00e9 next to the seating area. \u201cThe incident did leave its marks\u201d, says master\u2019s student Younes, leaning on a white table where his lunch rests, glancing around. \u201cBut for me, the Education Centre still feels like a second home.\u201d The two fellow students next to him nod in agreement.<\/p>\n\n\t

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Read more<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t