ATM explosion injures sleeping resident, terrifies Amsterdam neighborhood

By Janene Pieters on October 15, 2019 - 09:38
Netherlands police uniform
A police officer walking the beat in Amsterdam. 5 May 2015Photo: Joeppoulssen / DepositPhotos

An ATM bombing on Haarlemmermeerstraat in Amsterdam on Tuesday morning left the entire neighborhood shaken. One sleeping resident was injured when their window shattered due to the blast. "It really sounded like a bomb that went off", another frightened local said to AT5.

The bombing happened just after 3:00 a.m. Local residents report hearing two loud bangs. The explosions caused major damage. The facade of the building on which the ATM was located was severely damaged, and windows in a radius of around 50 meters around the ATM shattered, according to the broadcaster. The wounded local was treated at the scene by paramedics, a police spokesperson said to the Amsterdam broadcaster. 

The bombing targeted what used to be an ABN Amro ATM, but was recently converted to a yellow 'Geldmaat' ATM. Witnesses reported seeing two people flee the scene on a scooter or motorcycle. Whether they managed to steal any cash from the ATM is not yet clear. 

The police closed down the area and called in the Ministry of Defense's explosive disposal department to check for any explosives that had not detonated. Nothing was found. A smaller area around the ATM is still closed to the public as the police investigate. Investigators call witnesses to come forward.

The ATM explosion left the residents of Hoofddorpplein shaken. "I dived into the bathtub because I thought an attack was being committed", one local said to AT5. 

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