Suspect arrested after holding hostages for hours and threatening to ‘detonate bomb’ in Dutch nightclub | EUROtoday

For free actual time breaking information alerts despatched straight to your inbox signal as much as our breaking information emails

Sign as much as our free breaking information emails

A suspected attacker who held 4 individuals hostage in a Dutch nightclub earlier than allegedly threatening to detonate a bomb has been arrested, bringing a peaceable finish to a tense eight-hour standoff involving scores of armed police.

The incident, which befell within the central Dutch market city of Ede, 53 miles southeast of Amsterdam, ended round noon when a person walked out of the Cafe Petticoat membership and was ordered by armed police to kneel along with his fingers on his head. He was handcuffed earlier than being led right into a ready police automotive.

A number of hours earlier, three of the 4 individuals he had been holding hostage within the nightclub – which he had stormed whereas it was closing at round 4am – had been let go, however one hostage had remained.

Heavily armed police and particular arrest groups, some sporting masks, had gathered exterior the membership via the morning, in addition to negotiators. Some 150 close by houses had been additionally evacuated and trains had been barred from stopping on the city’s station.

The fourth and closing hostage was launched shortly earlier than the suspect was apprehended. All the hostages had been workers of the nightclub.

“We are exceptionally happy that it ended this way. That the victims came out safely and that we were able to arrest this suspect without using violence,” mentioned Marthyne Kunst, head of the regional public prosecutor’s workplace.

There was no rapid phrase on a motive, however police and prosecutors mentioned they didn’t consider it was a terrorist incident. Police mentioned the hostage-taker was armed with knives, whereas a backpack he carried was being examined to determine if it contained explosives.

Ms Kunst instructed reporters that the person was identified to regulation enforcement authorities and had beforehand been convicted of threatening conduct. She gave no additional particulars, citing privateness and the continuing investigation. Ede Mayor Rene Verhulst mentioned he was a Dutch citizen.

“Everything is fine,” mentioned Mr Verhulst, after an emotionally charged morning. “The hostage-taker was arrested by the police and they are now speaking to him. And the hostages are free, they are very emotional.”

The suspect charged into the nightclub after a celebration, known as “Living Room Session 16+”, concluded at round 4am, in keeping with a publish on Facebook.