Dutch Ministries evacuated after intruder reported in The Hague
The Dutch Ministries of Economic Affairs (EZ) and Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature (LVVN) were evacuated Thursday afternoon following reports of an intruder in the building. The evacuation occurred around 12:15 p.m., prompting all personnel and visitors to leave the premises.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Economic Affairs confirmed the incident but declined to provide further details about the intruder. According to reports from NOS, the intruder may be a fugitive who was recently convicted or was about to be sentenced. The individual is believed to have fled from the nearby Palace of Justice and entered the ministry building.
The spokesperson for EZ confirmed that police were actively searching the building for the person in question. While the police have not released further details about the situation, they are referring inquiries to the Ministry of Economic Affairs for comment.
At the scene, several hundred people were seen waiting outside the ministries, some wrapped in thermal blankets provided by emergency response teams. Witnesses reported that a fire alarm was triggered to alert those inside the building about the emergency.
As of the latest updates, law enforcement remains on-site, continuing their search and investigation into the matter. No injuries have been reported at this time.
