A potentially explosive hostage situation ended without any casualty at a central Amsterdam Apple Store, after the sole hostage escaped and the suspect was detained after the police rammed into him. The suspect, who police say had a criminal record, later died of his injuries.
The armed man entered the store on Tuesday and took a person hostage, demanding $230 million in cryptocurrency. He also wanted safe passage from the building.
The hostage managed to escape and the suspect was deliberately hit with a police car as he chased the hostage. He later succumbed to his injuries sustained in the accident. An investigation is on.
Amsterdam Resident Had Criminal Record
The police have not established a motive and would only say that the hostage-taker was an Amsterdam resident with a criminal record. The police found explosives on his body, but they were not set to explode.
Police were first called to the Apple Store in the Leidseplein area of the Capital at around 17:40 local time after the camouflage wearing suspect entered the store. Dozens managed to escape while four people hid in a cupboard throughout the crisis.
Media footage revealed a man holding a gun in one hand and holding on to the hostage in the other. He was carrying a pistol and an automatic rifle. He sent photographs of him wearing what he claimed were explosives strapped to his chest.
After 5 hours of the standoff, the hostage managed to escape when the gunman was taking water from a robot that was sent on the demand of the gunman. He ran onto the central Leidseplein square at 10:30 pm local time.
The police chief of Amsterdam, Frank Paauw said the hostage had played a significant part by compelling a breakthrough when he managed to escape.
Apple released a statement saying it was incredibly relieved and grateful that no employees or customers were harmed in the standoff in Amsterdam.