Gorinchem declares safety risk zone around Evenementenhal through Sunday evening
The mayor of Gorinchem has designated the area around the Evenementenhal as a safety risk zone this weekend due to a threat of explosions tied to a large shopping event. The municipality expects about 3,000 visitors, AD reported.
Mayor Reinie Melissant imposed the measure from 11 p.m. Friday until 8 p.m. Sunday. It allows police to frisk people and search vehicles without any suspicion of wrongdoing, primarily looking for weapons. The zone covers the Franklinweg, Einsteinstraat, and Buys Ballotstraat.
The action followed initial signals the mayor received on Wednesday about a "real threat of serious violent incidents" around the Dientjes Shopping Event XL, set for Sunday afternoon at the hall. “After that, consultations took place with the police, and then this measure was taken,” the municipal spokeswoman said.
“Of course, such a decision sounds quite drastic, and admittedly, you don’t take such a decision lightly. But at the same time, it is nothing more than a mandate from the mayor to the police to allow preventive frisking of people in that area,” she added.
Based on police information, the mayor also imposed additional temporary conditions on the Evenementenhal’s permit.
The event is organized by 32-year-old kickboxer and media personality Dina Ghabri. On Instagram, she has described it as “the biggest shopping event in the Netherlands.” More than 200 stands will sell women’s, men's, and children’s clothing. Performances are planned, along with prayer rooms and lounge areas.
Businesses in the immediate area were informed of the situation and the steps taken. Those located inside the safety risk zone include the McDonald’s and KFC fast-food restaurants, A15 Karting Gorinchem, and the Van der Valk hotel.
“As a municipality, we are on standby for questions from surrounding businesses,” the spokeswoman said. She did not know whether the stallholders had been told about the measure. “That is up to the organization of the event.”
