Several people briefly taken hostage in Netherlands

30.03.2024 11:13

Firefighters gather in Eden, Netherlands, March 30, 2024
Photo: AP Photo: Aleksandar Furtula

Several people were taken hostage by an unknown man at a bar in the Dutch town of Ede, local authorities have said. The suspect was later apprehended, with four hostages released.

Local police confirmed on Saturday that there is “a hostage situation involving several people is underway in a building in the center” of the town, which is located some 80km east from Amsterdam. Local daily Algemeen Dagblad described the suspect as a “confused man,” who was holding up visitors in a bar.

Officials also said that an evacuation of approximately 150 homes in the area is now underway. The police also issued an advisory telling residents “to stay away from the center of Ede.” “Stay inside and don’t come and watch,” the agency said, stressing that “at this time, there is no indication of a terrorist motive.

Algemeen Dagblad suggested that the hostages were being held “at the threat of explosives or weapons,” with other reports noting that the suspect could be wielding a knife.

Unverified clips circulating on social media appeared to show a heavy law enforcement presence in the area, including a heavy armored vehicle and a slow-moving mine-clearance robot.

BREAKING: NETHERLANDS - BOMB ROBOT DEPLOYED - HOSTAGE SITUATION A masked man reportedly carrying a "bag of explosives" and weapons entered the Petticoat Cafe in #Ede and has taken multiple hostages.#Breaking#Netherlandspic.twitter.com/CfVo2uWCBq
— Breaking Alerter (@BreakingAlerter) March 30, 2024

As the stand-off continued, the police said that three hostages had been released as videos on social media show three young people leaving the bar while being escorted by law enforcement operatives.

Een aantal personen komt uit de kroeg gelopen. Mogelijk gaat het om vrijgelaten gijzelaars in Ede. #gijzelinghttps://t.co/dJOnzQXMGxpic.twitter.com/qKaJtpFC5K
— De Gelderlander (@DeGelderlander) March 30, 2024

About one hour after the first three people were released, police said that “the last hostage has just been released,” adding that one person has been arrested while declining to provide further details.

A video on social media appeared to show a suspect dressed in white and wearing a black mask leaving the pub, putting his head down and walking slowly backward toward a group of law enforcement officers.

De vijfde persoon die uit de kroeg in ede komt waar sinds vanmorgen een gijzeling aan de gang was, wordt hier gearresteerd. Het lijkt te gaan om een man, die snel wordt afgevoerd. #gijzelinghttps://t.co/dJOnzQXMGxpic.twitter.com/kpgdv3H8Hr
— De Gelderlander (@DeGelderlander) March 30, 2024