The scare of your life; 20-year-old gets into daycare and starts stabbing...
By cyberfluf
@cyberfluf (4996)
Netherlands
January 24, 2009 10:26am CST
I heard this news yesterday, 23th january 2009. I haven't seen any English newsreports on it so far so I'll give you what I have heard on the Dutch news so far.
[i](Belgium) A man that was later identified as a 20-year-old drove his bike to a child daycare centre. He had painted his face white and his eyes black and ringed the doorbell. He claimed that he wanted information. When he was in the building he went straight for the rooms with the babies and started to stab like a maniac.
He has killed an employee and two babies, and has seriously injured 10 or 12 others (I am not completely sure, but it was a lot!).
The babies and adults that are still in the hospital are no longer in life danger.[/i]
Any parent hearing this news must be devestated and scared, I know I am working
in daycare myself and having a 2½-year-old foster brother that attends a playgroup.
The Belgium government is looking into the case to see if there is more security needed in daycares.
There is one daycare in Holland that has a fingerprint scan before entering and also one that has an irisscan; what do you think? Does this go to far, or should be take every precausion possible? Does this rule out all possible evil?
I personally think not. A parent that is eligable to pick his kid up can go berzerk aswell, we can make the chances slim but we can never outrule them.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
25 Jan 09
This is absolutely horrific! 
Yes there should be every precaution taken possible to protect children in care, but how?? As you have said, a parent that loses the plot is just as capable of going berserk as any stranger, so how would you cover that aspect? I just don't know how you would go about it. Security Guards at every centre for example? Sure, this would be a positive step, but watch the reactions from parents when they find fees going up to pay for it! This is a very tough situation to find a generic and blanket fix for.
Yes there should be every precaution taken possible to protect children in care, but how?? As you have said, a parent that loses the plot is just as capable of going berserk as any stranger, so how would you cover that aspect? I just don't know how you would go about it. Security Guards at every centre for example? Sure, this would be a positive step, but watch the reactions from parents when they find fees going up to pay for it! This is a very tough situation to find a generic and blanket fix for.1 person likes this
@cyberfluf (4996)
• Netherlands
25 Jan 09
That's true, James. And what would society come to if there would be Security Guards anywhere and everywhere? Because you go shopping with your kids too, they go to friends homes, etc. This can basicly happen anywhere but the number of people injured will be less. This is perhaps the most horrific news I have heard in the last 10 years, it breaks my heart every time new info pops up on this one.
I think parents would indeed react to higher fees, but just picture a daycare center with high picked fences, electric shock security and body guards... aren't we creating day care prison? Will we choose freedom or full security, which will most likely have lupeholes somewhere aswell?
1 person likes this
@ellie333 (21016)
•
24 Jan 09
Hi Cyberfluf, Like you said not matter what precautions are taken it never rules out all possible evil. It is every parents fear when they leave their children with others and whenever I leave my son I prayer for his protection whilst away from me. This must be so awful for everyone involved and my thought and prayers are with them. I heard on the news earlier that the Belgium police have in fact arrested the man. Huggles. Ellie :D
@littleone3 (2063)
•
24 Jan 09
I heard about this on the news yesterday and also read about it in the newspaper today.
I just could not believe it,it is a terrible thing to happen they say there was 12 injured and two babies killed, one they believe was only about 2 months old, along with a carer.
I don't understand how he could have done that to poor innocent children. He must have a very twisted mind.
Being a mother of five myself things like this scares the life out of me.
I think every percussion should be taken as this is children's lives we are talking about they are very precious.
@cyberfluf (4996)
• Netherlands
25 Jan 09
I fully agree, littleone3. We should take this incident very seriously and try to prevent any harm from happening to our children and the children we take care of.
I feel we as adults are all responsable for all childrens wellbeing as they are to little to do so themselves. This guy is indeed very twisted.
The news has let more info out in the open. This guy was not a psychiatric patient and had no criminal record. He hasn't testified yet. Six out of the 12 people have been released from the hospital and some others are still getting care.
I didn't know about one of the babies being just 2 months old.. heartbreaking.
Thanks for adding to the discussion!
