Updated 3.40pm

A GUNMAN OPENED fire with an automatic weapon at a crowded shopping mall outside Amsterdam on Saturday, leaving at least six people dead and wounding 11 others, according to Dutch officials said.

The city government of Alphen aan den Rijn announced the death toll in the shooting at the Ridderhof mall on its Twitter account. The suburb is less than 25 kilometres  southwest of Amsterdam.

Four of the wounded were in critical condition, five were in serious condition and at least two others were slightly wounded, Mayor Bas Eenhoorn said.

A witness identified as Maart Verbeek told state broadcaster NOS the attacker had a machine gun and that he had seen at least five people he believed were killed and numerous more wounded.

“There was a panic in the mall, a lot of people running,” said Verbeek, a pet shop owner. “I see the attacker coming, walking, and I go inside the store … and I see him going by with a big machine gun.”

Dutch broadcaster NOS cited witnesses as saying the man later shot himself in the head with a second weapon, a pistol, and is one of the fatal victims.

It specified that there was only one shooter who was described as being about 25 years old and wearing a leather jacket and camouflage pants.

- AP