Police evacuate homes overnight after explosive found at Amsterdam toy shop; 2 arrested

Residents of apartment buildings on Abraham Staalmanplein in Nieuw-West were evacuated in the middle of the night Saturday after an explosive was found at a toy store. The explosion itself was prevented after the military’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal service removed the device. Police arrested two people at the scene.

Police received the first report of the explosive around 1:30 a.m. Residents were woken by officers just before 4 a.m. and told to gather outside at a distance from the building. According to a neighborhood resident, about 20 apartments were evacuated and many emergency services were present. A police spokesperson confirmed that part of the apartment building had to be evacuated.

After standing outside for some time, residents were taken by GVB bus to the police station on Johan Huizingalaan. They were allowed to return home just before 5:30 a.m.

Photos show members of the military’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal service working on the square in large protective clothing. It is not yet clear why the explosive did not detonate.

This is not the first incident at the toy store beneath the apartment building that has startled Abraham Staalmanplein residents. Earlier this week, the municipality installed camera surveillance after two previous explosions and an act of vandalism. Investigators are examining whether the incidents are connected. No suspects have been arrested in connection with the earlier explosions.