A 29-year-old man has been arrested following the fatal stabbing of an 11-year-old girl in Nieuwegein on Saturday afternoon. The man was picked up in a garden close to where the girl was killed.

The stabbing took place in Anemoonstraat, and several roads were closed off by police as the investigation got underway.

As yet, police said they do not know if the girl and her killer knew each other and have appealed for witnesses. The girl did not live on the street where she was attacked but did live in the neighbourhood.

However, locals told the Telegraaf they had been concerned about the man’s behaviour for some time, and three complaints had been made to the police about him. He is thought to come originally from Syria.

The dead girl and her family came from Eritrea, and the girl had celebrated her birthday on Friday, neighbours told the paper.