Hans Van Themsche

Hans Van Themsche (born 7 February, 1988, in Wilrijk, Antwerp, Flemish Region of Belgium) is a Belgian student who, on 11 March, 2006, shot three people, killing two and severely injuring another, before being shot by police and incapacitated. He was sentenced to life in prison in 2008.

The homicide received widespread media attention and drew major public and political attention to responsibilities regarding political presentation of immigrant and racial issues and its possible effects on individuals.De vermoorde onschuld
("''The murdered innocence''", here rather literally taken Dutch expression for ostensible innocence) by publicist Manu Claeys, 25 May 2006, on webzine (in the Netherlands)
Ravage Digitaal
'Media technologies and democracy in an enlarged Europe
chapter: '4. Case-study: Blogs, online forums, public spaces and the extreme right in North Belgium' (in particular '4.2.2. The murder of Oulematou Niangadou and Luna Drowart'), Bart Cammaerts, ''Tartu University Press'' 2007, (print) (print) (PDF) (PDF)Hate Crimes in the OSCE Region: Incidents and Responses, Annual Report for 2006
PART I. Hate-Motivated Violence: Incidents and National Responses - p.63, p.68 (incl. footnotes 376 and, for the European Network Against Racism declaration, 377) Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)'', 2007 (web retrieval 5 February 2010)

Course of events

Van Themsche had been caught smoking at his boarding school on 9 May 2006, and was facing likely expulsion.

He travelled from Roeselare to Antwerp where, on the morning of the eleventh, he had his long hair cut and shaven off (apart from a ponytail) before legally purchasing a Marlin 336W hunting rifle in .30-30 Winchester, he began his rampage in the city centre with a shot in the breast of a woman of Turkish descent who was seated six metres away on a bench reading a book; Songul Koç was severely wounded. He chambered another round and passed a pregnant Malian nanny, Oulemata Niangadou, and her two-year-old European charge, Luna Drowart. He turned and shot each of them in the back at close range, killing both instantly. While he moved on (presumably looking for more victims) Van Themsche was intercepted by a passing police officer, who held him at gunpoint and ordered him to surrender the rifle. After Van Themsche's refusal to put his weapon down and upon a suspicious movement, the officer fired once, neutralizing him with a shot to the stomach. Later on, Van Themsche's father would comment: "In my eyes, the policeman who shot down my son is a hero. I'm glad the man had so much courage, or else even more victims would have fallen."In 54 minuten veranderde alles
("''In 54 minutes, everything changed''") - Van Themsche's 11 May 2006 in great detail, journal ''Het Nieuwsblad'', 26 September 2007Moorden Antwerpen / Racisme was de drijfveer voor koele moordenaar
("''Murders Antwerp / Racism was the motivation for cool blooded murderer''"), journal (in The Netherlands) ''Trouw'', 12 May 2006Leiders extreemrechts zijn medeplichtig
("''Leaders extreme right are also responsible''"), web news '' VRT'', 12 May 2006Jonge dader bekent racistisch motief
("''Young culprit confesses racist motive''"), journal ''De Morgen'', 13 May 2006Gepest door allochtonen
("''Harassed by allochthones''"), journal ''Het Nieuwsblad'', 13 May 2006Quote. Peter Van Themsche
journal ''De Standaard'', 13 May 2006

Van Themsche, while being treated in hospital, described himself as a skinhead and admitted to police – as he had before the murders to boarding school friends – to specifically targeting non-whites. Of the 2-year-old (white) child, Van Themsche said she was "in the wrong place at the wrong time". Her death, however, was not incidental, since he had to chamber a new round before each shot. He told his interrogators "the presence near a black was sufficient reason" to kill the toddler. According to his statement, his reason for targeting minorities was that youths of foreign descent used to bully him at school; that would have been at least three years earlier. A farewell letter found in his room – as he may not have expected to survive – did not declare the premeditated murderous intent to which he confessed but did reveal that he wanted to take action against self-perceived "chaos in society".Belgisch moordproces van start
("''Belgian murder trial starts''") journal (in The Netherlands) ''De Pers'', 1 October 2007Antwerpse killer wou "afrekenen met ordeloosheid in de samenleving"
("''Antverpian killer wanted 'to get even with r rid ofchaos in society"), web news anchor super moderator ''VTM'': the News, 12 May 2006

At trial, the defense lawyers argued that Van Themsche suffered from Asperger syndrome and narcissistic personality disorder and was therefore insane. On 11 October, a jury of 12 citizens found Van Themsche guilty on all charges pressed against him, including the murder of Oulemata Niangadou and Luna Drowart. They also judged that the murders were motivated by racism. The next day, the jury and the three professional judges of the court of assizes sentenced him to life imprisonment. The Court of Cassation rejected Van Themsche's appeal in February 2008.Cassatie verwerpt beroep Hans Van Themsche
("'' ourt ofCassation rejects appeal Hans Van Temsche''"), journal ''De Morgen'', 19 February 2008 By June 2009, civil lawsuits at Antwerp had recognized a total of nearly 325,000 euro for damages to victims' families and Songul Koç whom he had caused a permanent professional disability of 55 percent; further treatment costs would add to his dues.Van Themsche moet overlevend slachtoffer 180.000 euro betalen
("''Van Themsche has to pay 180,00 euro to surviving victim''"), journal ''De Morgen'', 26 June 2009

Early declarations

The King and the Prime Minister reacted within hours: Albert II sent a message to the victims' families; the Royal Palace press service explicitly reminded on the King's well-known perspective on racism and violence to have been illuminated in his January speech before the several Institutions of the country. Guy Verhofstadt was quoted as saying: "These horrific, cowardly murders are a form of extreme racism. It should be clear to everyone now where extreme right can lead to."Koning stuurt boodschap naar families van slachtoffers schietpartij
("''King sends message to shooting victims' families''"), journal ''Het Laatste Nieuws'' (web retrieval 11 May 2006 21:15)Schutter neef parlementariër Vlaams Belang
"''Shooter nephew parliamentarian Vlaams Belang''", journal (in The Netherlands) ''De Telegraaf'', 12 May 2006Verhofstadt veroordeelt racistische moord
("''Verhofstadt condemns racist murder''"), journal ''Gazet van Antwerpen'', 12 May 2006 (web retrieval 5 February 2010) The president of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell, noted that the succession of attacks "shows that the step from xenophobic talk to crime is, unfortunately, possible".

Murderer's background and alleged responsibility of Vlaams Belang and its voters

Though the Antwerp public prosecutors said "on first investigation of his environment and family ansseems not to be brought up in a racialist or violent setting" and the family became described as "well-behaved" and as having an "impeccable Flemish-nationalist pedigree"De clan Van Themsche is overtuigd maar ,,braaf" Vlaams-nationalistisch
("''Van Themsche clan is convinced but "well-behaved" Flemish nationalistic''"), journal ''Het Nieuwsblad'', 13 May 2006Schutter Antwerpen had geen vooropgezet plan
("''Shooter Antwerp didn't have premeditated plan''"), journal (in The Netherlands) ''Trouw'', 12 May 2006 — the fact that the gunman's aunt, Frieda Van Themsche, was a member of parliament for the large far right party with anti-immigrant rhetoric Vlaams Belang, immediately brought press attention to the murderer's family background. In World War II, the twin brothers Van Themsche voluntarily fought on the side of their country's occupier, Nazi Germany, in Waffen SS uniform against the Soviets on the Eastern Front, costing one brother's life and Hans' grandfather Karel a leg; in the sixties he joined the Volksunie, in 1978 following Karel Dillen into its hard right split-off Vlaams Blok. Also his children Frieda and Peter, who would about ten years later father Hans, were earliest day members and became militants.Far-right ties in Belgian murders
web news ''BBC
...