Delft city hall evacuated after fire alert and suspected arson incident; Man arrested

Delft’s municipal offices were evacuated after a fire alert on Tuesday, with reports indicating that a suspect was arrested for throwing a flammable substance or object into the building. Reports suggest the incident involved an individual who may have been experiencing confusion or mental distress.

According to district8, witnesses saw the man throw a Molotov cocktail into the building at around 2:40 p.m. The incident led to smoke inside the building, prompting the precautionary evacuation of the entire city hall. Two people were treated at the scene after inhaling smoke, but no fire ultimately broke out. Firefighters later conducted a short follow-up inspection.

Firefighters ventilated the building as a precaution, and staff were later allowed to return to collect personal belongings. The extent of the damage appears to be limited, although exact figures regarding those evacuated have not been officially confirmed.

The incident comes two weeks after a man had smashed several windows at the municipal offices with a hammer. Sources have told District8 that this was the same suspect, but this remains unconfirmed.

In recent years, many Dutch municipalities have strengthened physical security measures at public buildings in response to growing safety concerns and incidents involving public-facing services.