‘Disturbed’ man arrested heading for Schiphol

After a weekend of extra security checks on vehicles heading for Schiphol airport, on Monday morning a coach was halted and a man removed and arrested by armed police.

The A4 motorway was closed off near the Sloten turn off for a time while police made the arrest. According to a police spokesman, the man was ‘possibly disturbed’. It is unclear whether military police, who have been carrying out extra surveillance at Schiphol, were involved, news agency ANP said.

According to broadcaster NOS, the man may have said inside the coach that he had a bomb. Dutch Rail (NS) is using coaches to bring passengers to Schiphol because of reduced train services while maintenance work is carried out on the track.

Traffic information service cameras showed the man being ordered to put his arms in the air and take off his shirt. The VID was later ordered to turn its cameras away.

Threat

Broadcaster NOS said later police had searched the bus and found nothing. The authorities had been alerted by a fellow passenger who phoned 112. The driver then pulled up onto the hard shoulder to wait for help.

This weekend, police carried out extra checks on Schiphol traffic in response to ‘indications’ of a threat, the counter terrorism coordinator NCTV said. It did not provide further details.

‘There was a (threat) indication related to the airport,’ spokesman Edmond Messchaert told Reuters. ‘The increased measures are intended to ensure the safety of people working at the airport and travellers.’

Passenger misery at Schiphol has been further intensified by a strike by Easyjet pilots, which has led to at least six flights being cancelled.

Source: dutchnews.nl