A man has been taken into police custody after a hostage situation unfolded at a nightclub in Ede, central Netherlands during the weekend. A local media outlet claimed four people were held hostage on Saturday morning at Cafe Petticoat. The opening time has not been confirmed. The man ended the captivity after seven hours voluntarily. The Dutch authorities were notified about 5:15 AM.
It is reported that three hostages were released and later the fourth victim was rescued. To date, the police have not revealed the motive behind the incident and an investigation has been launched to understand the suspect’s mental condition. The 28-year-old remains unnamed at the moment.
The club owner, Kevin, reported that the man demanded all his staff to sit down and then empty out their pockets. Kevin did not identify the suspect as a violent person when he entered the club building. He did, however, note that he looked like a “doll” and was lifeless. One of the staff members indicated that the suspect was silent during the entire incident.
Immediately after reporting the incident to the authorities, the police arrived at the scene within two minutes. Police officers at the scene reported that the suspect possessed numerous knives, which he demonstrated to the hostages. They also indicated that the suspect carried a balaclava and wore a black backpack. The railway company NS reported that trains traveling to and from Ede were cancelled due to safety reasons, and residents in around 150 houses in the area affected by the incident, were evacuated.
After the suspect emerged from the nightclub, he was taken into police custody. The hostages, who are currently receiving support from the authorities, remain traumatised. The club owner indicated that he wanted the victims to be left alone and to have all the support they need. The police stated that they would work with the city council to help support victims and have them receive the best care possible
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