Amsterdam-Zuid apartment shut down by mayor after two explosions in five days
Mayor Femke Halsema has ordered the closure of a residential building on Jekerstraat in the Rivierenbuurt neighborhood of Amsterdam-Zuid following two explosions within five days, the municipality announced Saturday.
The first explosion occurred late at night between Saturday and Sunday last weekend, shocking residents, Het Parool reported. The blast caused a fire that engulfed the entire front facade of the apartment, confirmed later by authorities.
Five nights later, a second explosion caused another fire at the same stairwell apartment. Police are actively investigating and searching for one or more suspects connected to both incidents. On Monday, Mayor Halsema authorized increased camera surveillance around the property to enhance security.
The municipality cited “risks to public order” as the reason for the closure. “These incidents have affected the surrounding area and caused unrest in the neighborhood. Given the severity and repetition of the events, police consider the likelihood of recurrence to be high,” the municipality stated in an official announcement.
Under the Municipal Act, the closure order prohibits anyone from using the building for at least three months as a measure to protect public safety and order in the area.
