Several people are being held hostage in a cafe in the Netherlands, according to local media reports.
Around 150 nearby homes have been evacuated in the town of Ede while authorities deal with “a hostage situation involving several people,” police said on X.
Heavily armed police have cordoned off part of the town and urged people to “stay away” from the area, adding: “Stay inside and don’t come and watch”.
The incident is taking place in a cafe, according to Dutch news agency ANP, which cited a local official.
Police gather in a cordoned off section of the town. Pic: AP
Earlier, as nearby homes were evacuated, police said there was a person in the area “who could be a danger to themself or others”.
National newspaper de Telegraaf reported the man who took people hostage was armed with weapons and explosives, citing several anonymous sources.
Police spokesperson Simon Klok told the Associated Press people were being held hostage in Ede but declined to give more details about the incident or say how many people were involved.
There is no indication the hostage situation has a terrorist motive, police said in a statement on X.
Firefighters in Ede. Pic: AP
Images from the scene in Ede, a rural market town southeast of Amsterdam, showed police officers and firefighters on the streets in the cordoned-off area.
The municipality said that all shops in the centre of Ede would remain closed.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.