Dozens of people were rescued from the building earlier in the evening. They were received by police officers. “They go to a police location for a witness statement and of course for aftercare such as Victim Support.” Images from AT5 show how various people are comforted on the street.
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Camouflage suit
Footage is circulating showing a hostage taker holding and threatening another man with a weapon. The image below shows the hostage-taker, dressed in a camouflage suit, with one arm slung over the hostage’s shoulder.
Several people reported hearing shots to AT5 earlier in the evening. An employee of the store is said to have shouted that a robbery was underway, according to the city broadcaster.
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Badly injured
Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam Rutger Groot Wassink spoke of “a shocking event” during the press conference. He praised the actions of the police and the interventions made. He said all the people trapped in the property are “safe and appear to be in good health.”
The suspect, who is said to have demanded 200 million euros in cryptocurrencies and safe conduct, made contact with the police himself. The man allegedly threatened to blow himself up.
Because the suspect was eventually violently overpowered by the police, the National Criminal Investigation Department has launched an investigation. Once outside, the suspect was hit by a police car. The driver is not seen as a suspect but as a witness.
The hostage-taker was taken to hospital with serious injuries and was able to speak at the time. It is not clear what his current condition is.