Hostage drama at Amsterdam Apple store ends as police RUN OVER gunman
Hostage drama at Amsterdam Apple store ends as police RUN OVER gunman who took held dozens of people when he ran out of the building chasing a fleeing captive
Footage shows assailant chasing person fleeing store before being hit by a carAmsterdam police earlier said there was ‘someone with a firearm in/near shop’In an update at 9.15pm, force said ‘dozens’ have been able to leave the building Employees and residents near square in city’s centre were advised to stay inside
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Dozens of people have been freed by police after a gunman seized hostages at an Apple store in Amsterdam.
Footage shows the assailant chasing a person fleeing the store before suddenly being hit by a car in Leidseplein – a square in the centre of the Dutch capital.
Amsterdam police said: ‘We managed to stop the hostage-taker by hitting him as he ran out. Violent images of that collision can be seen.
‘We now know that the suspect had no explosives on his body and medical personnel are now taking care of him.’
A clip earlier showed a man in a headlock with what appeared to be a gun pointed at his head inside the shop.
The hostage-taker could be seen waving around the weapon as he gestured towards customers sat in a restaurant across the street.
Another video also captured approximately a dozen armed police officers taking cover and surrounding the store in the city.
Local media reports suggest the assailant is an armed robber, but this has not been confirmed.
Police said at 9.15pm that ‘dozens’ of people have left the building since the incident began at around 5.40pm.
The force added: ‘They are going to a police station for a witness statement and of course for aftercare such as victim support.’
Footage earlier showed a man in a headlock with what appears to be a gun pointed at his head at the shop in Leidseplein – a square in the centre of the Dutch capital
Another clip captured around a dozen armed police officers running near the store in the city
Police initially said: ‘Due to a report at a shop on Leidseplein, police are now deployed there. More information will follow via this Twitter channel.’
In an update at around 5.55pm, it added: ‘There is someone with a firearm in/near the shop in question, the police are on site with many (specialist) units to get the situation under control.’
A further statement said they were reluctant to provide information ‘so as not to disrupt our investigation and efforts there’.
The force said at 7pm that a ‘hostage situation’ is ongoing, before confirming around an hour later that ‘several people have been able to leave’.
One witness claimed they had to ‘run for their life’ after hearing gunshots.
They told Dutch broadcaster AT5: ‘I was standing on the zebra crossing opposite the apple store. An employee walked out in panic with a walkie-talkie, yelling.
An armed member of the DSI (Dutch Special Intervention Service) arrives at Leidseplein during an hostage situation in an Amsterdam’s Apple Store today
Armed officers are seen standing by a police vehicle near Leidseplein during the hostage situation. Members of the public were advised to stay away from the site
Security forces take measures around the store after armed robbers reportedly entered the store in the centre of Amsterdam
‘At that moment the penny hadn’t dropped yet and I was about to cross the zebra crossing opposite the entrance to the Apple store.
‘And that’s when I heard gunshots inside.’
Members of the public were advised to stay away from the site so police can ‘focus on dealing with the situation’.
Dutch journalist Wouter Laumans earlier tweeted: ‘The Apple store Leidseplein hostage situation is still ongoing.
‘Police officer on the ribbon talks about “possible explosion hazard”.’
Security forces take measures around the store during the hostage situation. One witness claimed they had to ‘run for their life’ after hearing gunshots
Members of DSI arrive at scene of a hostage situation at the Apple store in Leidseplein, Amsterdam, on Tuesday
