Car explodes in centre of Amsterdam just yards away from scene of mass stabbing
Car explodes in centre of Amsterdam just yards away from scene of mass stabbing
A car explosion – just metres away from where a British tourist tackled a suspected knifeman to the ground – has rocked Amsterdam’s central Dam Square.
Footage from a CCTV camera showed the blast inside the vehicle left near the World War II cenotaph, which was surrounded by people at the time.
It was just moments later that flames engulfed the car, forcing crowds to flee in the opposite directions.
Plumes of dark smoke began billowing from its charred remains, rising into the sky and above the Royal Palace.
Dutch police said no one was injured apart from the driver, who is thought to have caused the explosion.
‘We suspect that the driver caused the fire himself. In this case, intent is taken into account. The driver was injured,’ a statement said.
Images show that the victim is on fire and that officers who rushed to the scene are spraying him with a foam extinguisher. Their condition remains unknown.
Dam Square has since been largely closed off while police carry out their investigation and the fire is extinguished.
An explosive ordnance disposal service has also been deployed to the site, which is a major hotspot for tourists.
Pictures show crowds amassing in nearby streets to watch as fire crews battle the flames.
This is the second big incident to have happened in the centre of the Dutch capital in just a week.
The explosion follows a mass stabbing close to the very same spot in Dam Squarein which five people were attacked. Four of them still remain in hospital.
Police have identified the suspect in that incident as a Ukrainian national from the eastern Donetsk region, who prosecutors said had terrorist intent.
