UPDATE: Netherlands Nightclub Crisis Concludes — Hostages Released Unharmed, Suspect Allegedly Wearing ‘Balaclava’ Now in Police Custody

UPDATE: Dutch police successfully secured the release of all hostages held at a nightclub in Ede. The suspect was also arrested.

A tense hostage situation unfolding at Café Petticoat in the small town of Ede, located less than 60 miles from Amsterdam, has led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents early Saturday morning.

The crisis, which has been ongoing for nearly five hours, began around 5:42 a.m. and has since escalated to a “major incident,” drawing heavy police and bomb disposal units to the scene, Metro.co.uk reported.

Authorities have established a wide safety perimeter around the café, where an unidentified individual has taken multiple people hostage. The assailant has also claimed to possess explosives, heightening concerns for the safety of both the hostages and the surrounding community.

In a statement released on Twitter, police officials declared, “A hostage situation involving several people is underway in a building in the center. That is why several specialist services are on site.”

Update Ede: In een pand in het centrum is een gijzeling van meerdere personen gaande. Daarom zijn meerdere specialistische diensten ter plaatse. ^AM

— Politie Gelderland (@POL_Gelderland) March 30, 2024

The statement also mentioned that many questions have arisen regarding the motive behind the incident, but as of now, “there is no indication of a terrorist motive.”

Update Ede: We merken dat er veel vragen zijn over de aanleiding. Op dit moment is er geen indicatie voor een terroristisch motief. ^AM

— Politie Gelderland (@POL_Gelderland) March 30, 2024

Local residents have been advised to steer clear of the town center, and there have been reports of aerial traffic being redirected away from the town. Families evacuated from the vicinity have been provided refuge within the town hall, according to Metro.

Officials took swift action to evacuate 150 homes near the central square.

“An area is now being evacuated in Ede , approximately 150 homes. The residents are taken care of. There is a press box for journalists on the corner of Detmarstraat/Arnhemseweg,” according to the social media post.

Dutch police provided updates via X (formerly known as Twitter), announcing the successful resolution of the crisis. “The last hostage has just been released. One person has been arrested. We cannot share more information at this time.,” the police statement read.

Update Ede: Zojuist is de laatste gegijzelde vrijgelaten. Er is één persoon aangehouden. Meer informatie kunnen we op dit moment nog niet delen. ^AM

— Politie Gelderland (@POL_Gelderland) March 30, 2024

Ede Stad reported, “A fourth person was able to leave Café Petticoat in Ede just after noon and shortly afterwards handcuffed a person wearing a balaclava. Three people had already left the building where a hostage situation had occurred about an hour earlier.”

Al Jazeera reported:

The man walked out of the club in the town of Ede, before being ordered by armed police to kneel with his hands on his head. He was then handcuffed and led into a waiting police car.

Earlier, three young hostages walked out of the club with their hands above their heads. A fourth person was released shortly before the suspect was arrested. The hostages were all workers at the club.

“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,” said Marthyne Kunst, head of the regional public prosecutor’s office.

Police said the hostage-taker was armed with knives, and a backpack he carried was being examined amid reports he had threatened to use explosives.

Kunst told reporters that the man was known to law enforcement authorities and had previously been convicted of threatening behaviour. She gave no further details, citing privacy and the ongoing investigation.

The suspect’s identity was not released. Ede Mayor Rene Verhulst said he was a Dutch citizen.