Crash: 7 Victims & Perpetrator Dead, 10 Wounded at Queen's Day 2009

[AuntyTam]

My sympathies to the victims, and to Her Majesty, the Royal family, and all of the lovely Dutch people.

[ghost_night554]

I know there was a small gathering earlier tonight and some of the royals were interested in attending. Does anyone know if they went, I suppose that information probably wouldn't be released would it? I'm sorry if these questions sound intrusive but I'm very curious since we don't get alot of info about the foreign royals over here.

[Madame Royale]

Knowing that your life, and the lives of your family would wish to be taken because of who you are, must be quite the confronting reality.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by ghost_night554

I know there was a small gathering earlier tonight and some of the royals were interested in attending. Does anyone know if they went, I suppose that information probably wouldn't be released would it? I'm sorry if these questions sound intrusive but I'm very curious since we don't get alot of info about the foreign royals over here.

Yes there was this gathering,but it was nothing official.

The official gathering will be on friday may 8th at Orpheus Theater,Apeldoorn.
Besides HM several other members of the RF have expressed their wish to attend.

Meanwhile The Queen constantly gets updates on the condition of those still in hospital

[TLLK]

Thank you for the updates Lucien.

[ghost_night554]

Originally Posted by lucien

Yes there was this gathering,but it was nothing official.

The official gathering will be on friday may 8th at Orpheus Theater,Apeldoorn.
Besides HM several other members of the RF have expressed their wish to attend.

Meanwhile The Queen constantly gets updates on the condition of those still in hospital

Oh I understand now Lucien the official gathering on May 8th is when the royal family will be attending , that makes more sense now I thought they were attending the unofficial one which was today, thank you for clearing that up! Wonderful of the Queen to be so concerned for her people , she's such a lovely lady.

[Lakshmi]

OMG, there are already 6 victims! I think they will tighten security for royal family after these events. Condolences to families of victims.

[RubyPrincess168]

I know there's no way that car could have done any serious damamge to the bus, especially with the condition it was in once it made it onto the parade route. It's sad that people feel that life isn't worth living when they get a little down on their luck, and decide to kill themselves, and others too. We hear about people in our country who kill their spouse and kids before killing themselves, and it's usually related to some financial problems. I watched some of the videos on our news websites. I thought how sweet it was to see W-A put his arm around Maxima's shoulders. But the look of horror on her face brings tears to my eyes.

I wonder what the reaction is from neighboring royal families.

[susan alicia]

I am not one of those posters, the NRC, a high quality Dutch newspaper, writes 7 deaths (the unborn child is not included).

Originally Posted by crm2317

I am just curious as to whether the six victims includes the unborn child whose mother was killed. If not to me it would be 7 victims and perpetrator dead. However I agree with all other posters that the car driver should not be included in the same categorie as the victims.

With regards to the impromptu address by Queen Beatrix I feel it was just what it needed to be. She reassured her people of her own grief and sadness and provided an image of stability, strength and hope. I don't even speak dutch and she left me feeling reassured that the people will grieve and recover but never forget.

My thoughts and prayers continue to go to all affected by this terrible day. I'm sure Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima as well as all the other members of the royal family have never been so relieved to see and hold their children again.

[Royal Fan]

if all Royals had God Forbid passed who would Monarch Princess Catherina Amalia.....GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!

[lucien]

President Barack Obama has send a letter of condolance to Her Majesty,the President also expresses his sympathy with all the wounded and their families

According to the RVD ( the Government Information Service) HM has also received many letters of support and signs of sympathy from abroad,according to the statement issued this morning.

Over 250 pictures and films have been send to the police after a public request to hand in as much material as possible as investigators try
to reconstruct the what and how that lead up to this tragedy.They are especially keen on material that could/would show the point were the perpetrator first hit into the public with over 100km an hour.

Of the ten wounded left,8 are still in hospital one of them still in a critical condition,2 have been discharged and at home again,but still HM is in close contact regarding all of them and their condition and that of their families as they still cope with the shock.

[Roslyn]

This has indeed been a tragedy, and I feel great sympathy for those who suffered and those who continue to suffer, and for the families of those who died as they will continue to suffer for the rest of their lives.

But I feel uncomfortable seeing the perpetrator described as evil or a weirdo. He may well have been a cold blooded psychopath, who knew what he was going to do was wrong but didn't care and decided to do it anyway, but it is equally possible that he was a poor man who had problems in his life which he found overwhelming and who sought help but was inappropriately and/or incompetenly assessed by medical attendants.

I don't know, and as far as I can tell no-one else does yet either, and I just think judgment about him should await the result of investigations.

[Paty]

So many people have really big problems in threir lifes, and not for that they kill inocent people.
The perpetrator was just a murderer, which blame do they have?

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Roslyn

This has indeed been a tragedy, and I feel great sympathy for those who suffered and those who continue to suffer, and for the families of those who died as they will continue to suffer for the rest of their lives.

But I feel uncomfortable seeing the perpetrator described as evil or a weirdo. He may well have been a cold blooded psychopath, who knew what he was going to do was wrong but didn't care and decided to do it anyway, but it is equally possible that he was a poor man who had problems in his life which he found overwhelming and who sought help but was inappropriately and/or incompetenly assessed by medical attendants.

I don't know, and as far as I can tell no-one else does yet either, and I just think judgment about him should await the result of investigations.

Or maybe his mommy declined him a cooky in his early years...Get Real!!.He was a member of society that was not known with any medical record pointing at a trauma or anything related.He was fired,had to cope with what thousands had to cope and thought this would draw attention to his frustration.He is no longer a suspect,the cowardice creep is dead,DEAD,as are 6 of his victims.
He wasn't sick in the head,he was a kamikaze twit who threw an entire nation into shock,horror and disbelief,but moreover it was a ruthless assassination attempt on the Monarch and her entire family and anyone in between that,and nothing more,or less,then that.Period.

It was a revenge for his being fired by a security company this year,after he lost a job as a drive last year.
He wanted to prove that security in Apeldoorn wasn't good enough.Well...

[lucien]

HM The Queen has decided to keep on celebrating Queensday as we are used to over nearly 3 decades.

Hail to The Queen!!

Our resilience plays up again,like it should be,we won't have anyone nor anything dictate our lives in fear.Contrary.
We won't have it and will continue business as usual,but a tad more carefull,ie,more security but invisible,just more of it.

HM already had decided to also attend the remembrance day ceremonies as well as the Liberation Day concert this
monday and tuesday as usual.
God Bless Her.

[MARG]

Originally Posted by lucien

Or maybe his mommy denied him a cooky in his early years . . . . .

I know your anger comes from pain, shock, anger and the "what if" factor. What if one of the dead or injured was someone I knew, someone I love? On top of that is the rage that comes from the knowledge that someone tried to assassinate the Royal Family, your Royal Family and there can be no excuse that could ever justify such an act.

Please be patient with those who have a driving need to try to find a rational explanation for that which is irrational. An explanation for the inexplicable. A reason for that which is unreasonable. It is a Gen Y tendency to believe that something or someone else must be to "blame" for anything that goes wrong.

This guy lost his job and committed an act of sheer evil apparentely out of spite, malice, vindictiveness. All words that are no longer politically correct but are, nonetheless, accurate.

And so I ask that you remain patient with those that seek an explanation for what happened and believe that they understand that an explanation is not, and never will be, an excuse.

As to Queen Beatrix deciding to carry on regardless? Why am I not surprised: She is one very courageous lady who knows her people need her now more than ever.

[susan alicia]

I do too (feel uncomfortable) Not because I am a liberal but probably because of what I pray when I pray the Lord's Prayer (as we forgive them that trespass against us)

Originally Posted by Roslyn

This has indeed been a tragedy, and I feel great sympathy for those who suffered and those who continue to suffer, and for the families of those who died as they will continue to suffer for the rest of their lives.

But I feel uncomfortable seeing the perpetrator described as evil or a weirdo. He may well have been a cold blooded psychopath, who knew what he was going to do was wrong but didn't care and decided to do it anyway, but it is equally possible that he was a poor man who had problems in his life which he found overwhelming and who sought help but was inappropriately and/or incompetenly assessed by medical attendants.

I don't know, and as far as I can tell no-one else does yet either, and I just think judgment about him should await the result of investigations.

[Empress]

Let us please refrain from bringing religious considerations into the thread.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and by the very nature of this thread and this atrocious act, there will be many differing opinions. Please be sensitive to those that have a different opinion than yours.

We might very well have members on this board who knew/know one of the victims, and their anger is righteous and understandable.

[Chimene]

Originally Posted by Paty

So many people have really big problems in threir lifes, and not for that they kill inocent people.

Excatly. No investigation or anything else for that matter will bring closure for the ones that are left behind in this situation because the act is unthinkable. No matter how you look at it, the fact remains that his action was pure evil.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by MARG

I know your anger comes from pain, shock, anger and the "what if" factor. What if one of the dead or injured was someone I knew, someone I love? On top of that is the rage that comes from the knowledge that someone tried to assassinate the Royal Family, your Royal Family and there can be no excuse that could ever justify such an act.

Please be patient with those who have a driving need to try to find a rational explanation for that which is irrational. An explanation for the inexplicable. A reason for that which is unreasonable. It is a Gen Y tendency to believe that something or someone else must be to "blame" for anything that goes wrong.

This guy lost his job and committed an act of sheer evil apparentely out of spite, malice, vindictiveness. All words that are no longer politically correct but are, nonetheless, accurate.

And so I ask that you remain patient with those that seek an explanation for what happened and believe that they understand that an explanation is not, and never will be, an excuse.

As to Queen Beatrix deciding to carry on regardless? Why am I not surprised: She is one very courageous lady who knows her people need her now more than ever.

HM has the resilience that is a second nature to the Dutch.

Elsevier magazine writes today that according to a former friend he wanted to take revenge at the security company that fired him recently,but as far as he had known Tates he would have never aimed at assasinating The Queen.

I wonder did Tates tell him what about his plan?In that case,would that make that so called friend an accomplice I wonder?
He apparently also told others he wanted to write history.Well...