Explosion sparks fire at psychiatric facility in Barendrecht
A fire broke out Tuesday evening at a psychiatric care facility in Barendrecht after an explosive device was thrown at the building’s entrance. The fire has been extinguished, and no arrests have been made, authorities said.
The fire started at approximately 8:30 p.m. at the entrance of the Yulius psychiatric care facility on Dennenhout. Emergency services responded quickly, escalating the response to a “medium fire” level within six minutes. Two fire trucks and a high ladder truck were deployed to contain the fire.
“With the coordinated efforts of two fire engines and a ladder truck, we were able to extinguish the fire effectively,” a spokesperson for the fire department said.
The explosion caused smoke to spread into the building’s hallway, prompting an evacuation of the affected areas. While no individuals were removed from the premises, staff relocated people to a safer section of the building, according to the regional safety authority.
Authorities have not disclosed the extent of the damage to the building. Police are conducting an investigation and have secured evidence from the scene.
As of Wednesday morning, no suspects have been apprehended. It remains unclear whether the individual responsible for the attack has any connection to the facility or its residents.
