Dutch hostage situation in night club; suspect surrenders to police

A hostage situation in a nightclub in the eastern Dutch town of Ede was continuing on Saturday, and three people have been released, police said in a statement.

A gunman took several people hostage earlier on Saturday in the Netherlands and threatened to detonate a bomb, media reports said.

It was unclear how many people were still being held after three employees were seen by reporters fleeing the area with their hands above their heads.

There was no indication of a terrorist motive, police said.

Several special police units were deployed to the scene, a building in the centre of town, police said in a post on social media. They said 150 homes had been evacuated and the public was asked to stay away from the area.

People were being held at the Petticoat nightclub by a man with weapons and explosives, national newspaper de Telegraaf reported, citing several anonymous sources.

A reporter for broadcaster NOS said a remote controlled robot was at the scene as well as anti-explosives units and police in protective gear.

Trains to and from Ede were cancelled, railway operator NS said on its website.

The hostage drama ended peacefully after several hours on Saturday with the arrest of a suspect – a man wearing a balaclava mask who exited the building and surrendered to police.

“The last hostage has just been released. One person has been arrested,” a police statement said. “We cannot share more information at this time.”

Several people, including employees, had been taken hostage at the Cafe Petticoat in the town of Ede early on Saturday morning. The motive was unclear but police had said there was no indication of a terrorist motive.

The suspect walked out of the club, put his hands behind his head and got to his knees before being handcuffed by police, a Reuters video journalist at the scene said.

Police explosives units had been deployed to the building in the town centre. Streets in the area had been evacuated and trains cancelled to the town, nearly 80 km (50 miles) from Amsterdam.

National newspaper de Telegraaf had reported, citing several anonymous sources, that the hostage-taker had weapons and explosives.