It were scary moments for the more than a hundred passengers on the train from Nijmegen to Roermond on Wednesday evening. The train was stopped at Holthees because there would be a suspicious package in the train. All passengers had to remain seated on the train. “At first we thought that someone had jumped in front of the train or that a confused person was walking on the track. Later it was said that it might be an explosive,” says Maikel Huis from Milsbeek.
Shortly afterwards it became a bit more exciting, Maikel says. “At one point the police came in. Everyone had to raise their hands and I had to take off my shoes. I also had to bend forward so they could see if I was hiding something behind my back. Everyone was searched. In our compartment nothing was found. After that it was actually quite nice.”
Sietse Vlasma from Venray was trapped in the train for almost three hours. “That happened after it was announced that a grenade may have been found in the train. I was shocked when suddenly the police came in with dogs and everyone had to hold up their hands. When they had found nothing, it was soon quiet again. heard that there was a lot of hassle in another compartment. I played cards with strangers for a while. Due to the long wait, my phone was completely empty.”
“It was a different train ride than usual,” says Melanie Bijlmakers from Heel. “I quickly realized that something was not right. It took a while before we heard anything about what was going on. Then I started looking on the internet myself. Then I read that it may have been an explosive.”
Shortly afterwards, the police entered the compartment and had to leave the train one by one. “We were checked outside. Also with a dog. That was quite an exciting experience.”
After the check, they were allowed to go home or had to wait for a bus. “My friend Zoe and her uncle picked me up and took me home.” About thirty passengers continued on the train towards Roermond around a quarter to eight.