Dutch nightclub hostage drama ends peacefully with arrest of suspect

A man, center, is detained by the Special Intervention Service (DSI) of the Dutch National Police Corps outside a cafe in the center of Ede, the Netherlands, March 30. EPA-Yonhap

A hostage drama at a nightclub in the eastern Netherlands ended peacefully after several hours Saturday with the arrest of a suspect — a man wearing a balaclava mask who exited the building and surrendered to police.

"The last hostage has just been released. One person has been arrested," a police statement said. "We cannot share more information at this time."

Several people, including employees, had been taken hostage at the Cafe Petticoat in the town of Ede early Saturday morning. The motive was unclear.

Officials said at a news briefing that the suspect, who was previously known to police, had threatened the hostages with knives. There was no indication of a terrorist motive, officers said.

The suspect walked out of the club, put his hands behind his head and got on to his knees before being handcuffed by police, a Reuters video journalist at the scene said.

Police bomb specialist had been deployed to the building in the town centre. Streets in the area had been evacuated and trains cancelled to the town, nearly 80 km (50 miles) from Amsterdam. (Reuters)