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Dutch 'royal attack' death toll rises to 7
(Xinhua/Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-02 22:19

BRUSSELS -- The death toll in Thursday's attempted attack on the Dutch royal family rose to seven when a member of the Dutch Royal Marechaussee, or military police, succumbed to injuries in hospital on Friday.

Dutch 'royal attack' death toll rises to 7
People lie injured after a car ploughed into a parade that included Queen Beatrix and the royal family on the national Queen's Day holiday in the Dutch city of Apeldoorn April 30, 2009. Several people were injured although no royals were hurt. [Agencies]

The 55-year-old military policeman was working as a driver for the Marechaussee in the central Dutch city of Apeldoorn when he was hit by the car of the attacker on Thursday, Radio Netherlands said.

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The fatalities included the attacker himself, a 38-year-old Dutchman. During Thursday's royal parade in Apeldoorn celebrating the Queen's Day, he deliberately ploughed through spectators before crashing into a monument. He died in hospital earlier Friday.

Another 11 people were injured in the incident, including a woman who is still in a critical condition. The other eight people who are still in hospital are reportedly in stable conditions.

The public prosecutor said on Thursday that the attacker had told police that his target was the royal family. The public prosecutor ruled out any terrorist motive.

The attacker was identified as Karst Tates, an unemployed security guard from a village in the east of the Netherlands.

His neighbors say he lost his job a few months ago. They describe him as a quiet, withdrawn person. His motive for carrying out the attack remains a mystery.

The Dutch authorities have put about 250 detectives into the investigation of the incident. The police have received more than 750 tips so far.

Queen's Day is a Dutch national holiday when all kinds of festivities are organized across the country, attracting hundreds of thousands of domestic as well as foreign party-goers. Thursday's tragic incident brought most of the country's celebrations to a halt.