Hostage situation at Hilversum Media Park ends in arrest
The police arrested a man at the NPO 3FM building in the Hilversum Media Park premises around 9:30 a.m. on Thursday after he held a woman hostage there for an hour and a half. The woman is unharmed and is receiving victim assistance, the police said, NU.nl reports.
The police have thus far refused comment about the suspect's identity and motives. According to the police, he threatened a woman in the parking lot in front of the building with a knife. He then forced her into the building and held her captive, authorities allege.
A police negotiator managed to make contact with the man and entered the building. A short time later a SWAT team entered and arrested the man, NOS reports.
According to police officials, the victim works for NPO, the national public broadcasting organization in the Netherlands. There were few other people in the building at the time as 3FM is broadcasting from other locations this week, according to NU.nl. No one was injured as far as is known.
A bag containing a knife was found outside the building, according to the newspaper.
Politie heeft verdachte van gijzeling net afgevoerd. Arrestatieteam verlaat Mediapark Hilversum. #NPO #3FM pic.twitter.com/kM6UIaQ9PO
— Jeroen Wetzels (@jeroenwetzels) August 17, 2017
Politie houdt man aan na korte gijzeling in pand #NPO #3FM, vrouw opgevangen: https://t.co/EIbwveASzq pic.twitter.com/Nmyd6gA9lt
— Elsevier Weekblad (@Else4Weekblad) August 17, 2017
Police find a bag containing knife abandoned near building. Latest pics outside #NPO3FM premises #Hilversum pic.twitter.com/DaneAdYXHa
— Hari SP (@Hari_Nuranian) August 17, 2017
Hostage situation at Dutch radio station. An armed man entered NPO 3FM in Hilversum. Media reports a bag and knife nearby. #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/Bu5TWXSOiq
— Euro Maestro (@euromaestro) August 17, 2017
