Local media reported on Saturday that the hostage-taking crisis in the Dutch city of Ede ended with the arrest of one person, after he detained people for several hours in a cafe. The police arrested the man armed with a knife and released the four hostages he was holding.
The Dutch news agency ANP said that the suspect left the café, raising his arms and covering his face, and the police arrested him, according to a spokesman for the local mayor. Prosecutors reported that he had a criminal record.
The four hostages, who are cafe workers, were released without being injured after they had been detained since before dawn. Police said that regarding reports of the man possessing explosives in a backpack, no explosives were found.
The hostage-taking on Saturday morning led to a major police operation in the city east of Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Police sent a force to impose a security cordon around the Petitcoat Cafe in the city where the hostages were being held, and heavily armed security forces wearing protective clothing were sent around the area. Emergency equipment was also sent, and 150 homes were evacuated due to fears of the presence of explosives.
Prosecutors stated that there was no direct connection between the hostage taker and those who held them, and three of them were released before midday. The fourth was released shortly afterwards.
Chief Public Prosecutor Marthene Kunst said that the suspect threatened four employees of the café with knives after a party held at the café.
Const reported that the four employees were cleaning the place after the party when the man threatened them.
#hostagetaking #operation #Netherlands #ended #casualties
2024-03-30 21:20:48
