Several people taken hostage in Dutch town: Police

Police respond to a hostage situation in Netherlands’ Ede, 150 homes evacuated with the public asked to stay away from the area

Several people were taken hostage in a town in central Netherlands Saturday, according to police, with houses evacuated and the town center closed down.

“A hostage situation involving several people is underway in a building in the center” of the town of Ede, police said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.

It is unknown how many people are being held, but local media have reported that around four or five people are involved.

Police said they had cleared a cordon around a cafe and brought the residents of around 150 houses to safety.

The local municipality said on its website that the town center had been closed off and that riot police and explosives experts were at the scene.

Dutch police said there was no sign yet of a “terrorist motive” for an incident Saturday in the centre of the country, where several people were being held hostage.

“We see there are many questions about the motive. At this time there is no indication of a terrorist motive,” police said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.

Everyone being held hostage in a town in central Netherlands is now free and a suspect is in custody, Dutch police said Saturday, after an ordeal that lasted several hours.

“The last hostage has just been released. One person has been arrested. We cannot share more information at this time,” announced police on X, formerly Twitter.

Source: AFP