WILLEMSTAD - Three 19-year-old boys have been arrested in connection with the murder of former St. Maarten police officer Van Thijs last Sunday. The arrests took place yesterday.  

After police authorities denied that the man who was brought into the CMC hospital with a gunshot wound on Sunday had anything to do with the Hariri Square/Palu Blanku Roundabout murder, it now appears that he did. The police confirm that the man who reported himself to the CMC with a gunshot wound is suspected in the said case. The suspected man has the initials A.A.A.A.S, is 19 years old and was born in Curaçao. The arrest took place at the CMC hospital.  

Yesterday afternoon, two men also reported to the police station in Rio Canario around 5.45 pm. They admitted their involvement in this murder case of their own accord. The police immediately arrested the two men, both 19 years old and born in Curaçao. The arrest took place at the police station in Rio Canario.  

Firearm  

When the latter two suspects were arrested, the police seized a firearm from one of them that is important for the investigation. In all three cases, the three suspected boys were brought before an assistant public prosecutor and taken into custody after questioning pending further investigation.  

On March 19, a murder took place at Palu Blanku Roundabout in which the former police officer lost his life. He was shot in the head.