No new victims were found during a search under the rubble of the gym in Amsterdam that was destroyed by an explosion. The search, which included the use of dogs, was stopped shortly before midnight. A spokesperson for the Amsterdam-Amstelland Safety Region confirmed this.
In the night from Thursday to Friday, a serious explosion took place at a gym in Amsterdam Nieuw-West. Part of the building collapsed and seven people were injured, including one seriously.
Residents of the adjacent apartment were evacuated and also had to spend the night elsewhere. The Safety Region hopes to be able to offer them more clarity about their return on Saturday.
The Safety Region cannot yet make any statements about the cause of the explosion. Het Parool reported on Friday, based on sources among local residents that a gang of explosives would have been manufacturing explosives in a basement box under the gym.
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In the explosion in a gym in Amsterdam-Osdorp, the municipality takes ‘all scenarios’ into account
The municipality of Amsterdam stated on Friday that it was taking “all scenarios” into account. The Amsterdam police reported that due to the search operation on Friday it was not possible to enter the building for criminal investigation. Partly because of this, a cause of the explosion cannot yet be given.
The police did known to have arrested several people, to have seized cars and to have requested camera images from the area. Now that there are no victims among the rubble, the investigation will continue from Saturday in the building where the explosion happened.