Explosive material forces evacuation of 50 homes in Lichtenvoorde; Resident arrested
Authorities evacuated around fifty homes Friday afternoon after explosive material was discovered in a Lichtenvoorde residence. Police also arrested a resident of the property.
The discovery triggered an immediate response from local police, the fire department, and the Explosieven Opruimingsdienst Defensie (EOD), the Dutch military’s bomb disposal unit.
According to Omroep Gelderland, residents of the affected homes were temporarily relocated to the Oost Gelre municipal building for several hours. The EOD later detonated the explosives outside Lichtenvoorde, according to Veiligheidsregio Noord- en Oost-Gelderland.
Once the detonation was completed, residents were allowed to return to their homes around 7 p.m. The spokesperson confirmed that they took the call regarding the potential explosive material "extremely seriously" and fully secured the area around the home.
“The material appeared serious enough that we evacuated the surrounding homes and set up a perimeter,” the police spokesperson said. Authorities have not disclosed the exact type or quantity of the explosive material. “This will be determined through investigation,” the spokesperson added.
