It is not known how many people had to be evacuated from the nearby apartment building on Asialaan. The building would have seventeen floors, but many people would not be at home due to the summer holidays.
Video first images: flat in Utrecht evacuated after discovery of suspicious car
According to the Safety Region, the Beneluxlaan at the level of the flat and the Europaplein are closed to more about the nature of the substance. The Explosives Clearance Service Defense (EOD) would be on site.
Bystanders inform the Telegraaf that two men would have been arrested by the police. Reporting of the police cannot confirm anything about this yet.
Second flat also evacuated
The police said on X that a second flat on Asialaan is also being evacuated. If the second flat is evacuated, the EOD can only investigate, a police spokesperson said. All residents are temporarily taken care of in a nearby Van der Valk Hotel.
Briefing municipality in Van der Valk
In a briefing at the Van der Valk Hotel, a spokesperson for the municipality of Utrecht announced that no news will be published until 1 am. Until that time it remains unknown whether the residents are allowed back home or not. The municipality is busy arranging a place to sleep for the residents, possibly in a gym. There is also something to eat. She emphasizes that no one is obliged to stay in Van der Valk.
Family is about to go on vacation
A reporter at the Van der Valk Hotel speaks a family that has their suitcases, because at 9 o’clock the taxi to Schiphol is ready at 9 o’clock tomorrow. The family flies to Nicaragua for summer vacation. ,, We had to take everything with us in seven minutes. Fortunately we had already packed the suitcases, “says the father of the family.
Father Byron, mother Maaike and their daughter are ready for their early departure to Guatemala. © De Telegraaf