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Broadcasting Zeeland
NOS News•
Devastation was caused at a primary school in Wissenkerke in Zeeland last weekend. Things in the building were destroyed and windows and walls were daubed. The school will remain closed today so that a cleaning team, including the teachers of the school, can clean up everything.
The destruction at primary school De Vliete were discovered yesterday by someone who takes care of the school’s chickens. He called the director, who went to the school together with the police.
According to Pim van Kampen, director of the umbrella Albero Scholengroep, computers have been smashed, ecoline is on the walls and cupboards have been emptied. “Nothing was stolen, but we found one big mess in the school. There are texts on the walls with the names of students,” he says to Broadcasting Zeeland.
‘Work of children or young people’
After an initial investigation by the police, there is a strong suspicion that the vandalism is the work of children or young people from the village. “Our first thought is that the action has gotten out of hand. That young people have been pushing each other,” says Van Kampen.
The police did an investigation for traces yesterday, but after that it was too late to clear everything up. That is happening today, so that the school is expected to reopen for students tomorrow.
“We have to find out who did this, and then start a conversation. This naturally leads to talk in the village, people wonder who is behind it and why it happened,” says Van Kampen. “We will tackle this together with the director of the school and the community police officer, because it has an impact in the village.”
Mayor shocked
The management said yesterday that it was shocked. Mayor Loes Meeuwisse of Noord-Beveland, which includes Wissenkerke, also calls the situation serious and deeply regrets it.
“I went to have a look yesterday. There I also spoke with the school board and the police. The fact that the school is closed today will indeed have an impact. From the municipality we will look, if it is clear who did this, if we can help.”
It is not yet clear how the perpetrators were able to go about their business undisturbed. Meeuwisse: “It is not yet clear to me whether there was no alarm system. If it is not there, then it must be installed. If it is there, we have to find out what the situation is. Someone who is responsible for the municipal buildings.”
