Police end hostage situation at Den Helder ferry; victim unharmed
The police put an end to a hostage situation at the TESO ferry in Den Helder on Friday morning. Members of the police's special intervention team managed to overpower the hostage taker, a woman, around 10:40 a.m., the police said.
According to the police, the woman who was taken hostage is now safe. She was not injured in the incident, the police said on Twitter. The suspect is on her way to a police station for further investigation.
The woman took another woman hostage for as yet unknown reasons around 8:20 a.m. on Friday morning, threatening the victim with a knife. Emergency services responded en masse, deploying numerous police officers, a negotiator, the fire department, ambulances, and a helicopter air ambulance.
The suspect screamed confusing statements at the crowd assembled around her as they pleaded with her to end the situation. “No! Nobody speak to me, no! No! I don’t want to talk with nothing. Fuck off! Fuck off!” she is heard shouting in several videos. “No! Everybody knows! Everybody here knows. Out! Out,” she said before making some demands to speak to representatives of her country. “I want to talk to Brazil. Please! I’m not terrorist [sic].” she ranted. “Everybody in the world knows!”
“This is your fault. Your fault!” she continued. “I want to talk to police!” she yelled before again demanding to speak to the head of her country.”
The ferry service between Den Helder and Texel was brought to a halt while the authorities dealt with the hostage situation. The service restarted at 11:10 a.m.
URGENT:
— Edward (@DonKlericuzio) December 22, 2017
An Hostage situation by a ferry boat in Den Helder Netherlands. Negotiations ongoing with the non - Dutch speaking hostage-taker. pic.twitter.com/AqvI2DL6v4
Verdachte overmeesterd door speciale eenheid politie. Slachtoffer in veiligheid gebracht, geen letsel. Verdachte gaat voor onderzoek naar politiebureau. Op dit moment niet meer informatie. Later meer info.
— Politie NoordHolland Noord (@POL_NHN) December 22, 2017