The central station in Eindhoven was partly evacuated on Sunday evening due to a bomb threat. A man reportedly said there was a bomb in his backpack, but it turned out to be nothing dangerous. What is the role of the NS in these types of reports and what happens to the suspect?
As soon as an NS employee notices something suspicious, it is immediately reported to the internal security center. “The security center then contacts the police via a special line,” says Oscar van Elferen, spokesperson for the NS. “Travelers who see a suspicious object can report it via WhatsApp. Based on the report, we estimate whether we need to call the police. Of course, travelers can also call 112 immediately.”
The police determine what should happen after a report at the station. “We always follow their instructions,” says Van Elferen. “In many cases, a special service comes to the location of the report.” For example, an agent from the Explosive Safety Team (TEV) was present in Eindhoven on Sunday evening.
“Our Safety & Service team is ready to assist the police if necessary,” Van Elferen continues. “What exactly the team should do depends on the situation. For example, the police may ask to stop train traffic, close the entrance or cordon off a section with barrier tape. Whether a station needs to be evacuated also depends on the report.”
What happens to the suspect?
The suspect in the bomb threat in Eindhoven was quickly arrested and was still in custody on Monday. Normally a suspect is released when he or she is no longer needed for investigation. This can be the same day or after a night in jail. If the judiciary believes that someone is a danger to society, it may be decided to detain the suspect longer.
What is the penalty if you make a false bomb threat?
Making a false bomb threat falls under Article 142a of Dutch criminal law. You can get up to four years in prison and a fine of up to 25,750 euros for such a false bomb threat.
It is very difficult for the Public Prosecution Service to say what kind of punishment is required, but the maximum sentence is almost never imposed. “For example, when there is a threat of a terrorist crime, the penalties demanded are usually more severe,” Bart Vaessen, spokesperson for the Public Prosecution Service, previously explained to Omroep Brabant. That almost never happens, more often it concerns bad jokes or confused people.
Personal circumstances are also taken into account: is this someone doing this for the first time or has the suspect been in contact with the law before? What the ultimate punishment will be is up to the judge.
In a recent case, a man from Amersfoort was given a six-week prison sentence for making a false bomb threat. He told another train passenger that there was a bomb on the train, which turned out not to be true. The person contacted the NS emergency number, after which the man was arrested by the Special Interventions Service and the police.
In 2021, a man was jailed for four months because he shouted on a train in Amsterdam that he had a bomb with him and that he would detonate it.