Several dead in machine-gun shooting at Dutch mall

A gunman opened fire in a shopping centre in the Netherlands on Saturday, killing at least five people, before turning the gun on himself.

The shooting took place at the Ridderhoff mall in Alphen aan den Rijn, south west of Amsterdam.

Witnesses say the man was armed with a machine gun, which he fired randomly on passers-by while running through the mall.

By Saturday afternoon police have confirmed six deaths, including the gunman, and 16 people injured, though those figures are not final.

The mall has been closed and the surrounding area cordoned off, according to local authorities.