Three people who were held hostage for several hours at a nightclub in the central city of Ede were freed on Saturday, police said, but added that “the situation is not over “.
Gelderland police announced the release of the hostages in a message on X. They did not provide any details on whether there were still hostages in the club. Heavily armed police and special arrest teams, some of whom were wearing masks, crowded outside the popular club. A video from the scene shows three people walking out of the club with their hands in the air after being freed.
Police said in a statement on website X that “there is no indication of a terrorist motive at this time.”
A man was holding hostages at a local Petticoat nightclub hostage with weapons and explosives, national newspaper De Telegraaf reported, citing several anonymous sources.
Earlier, police evacuated 150 homes near the central square, saying there was a man in the area “who could be a danger to himself or others”.
A reporter for NOS television said a remote-controlled robot was on the scene, along with bomb technicians and police in protective gear. Authorities urged residents to avoid the city centre and train services were diverted. Footage from the scene in Ede showed police and firefighters on the streets in a cordon.
