Gunman takes 40 hostage

Colin Adamson12 April 2012

A gunman is reported to be holding hostages in Amsterdam's tallest office building today.

Witnesses said the man had an M-16 assault rifle and a bomb.

A female worker at Rabo Securities, one of 50 international financial firms in the Rembrandt Tower, reported in a dramatic phone call that 40 hostages were being held.

More than 100 armed police surrounded the 35-storey building. Ambulances and fire engines were standing by.

"The man is armed with a gun. He is holding people in the entrance hall and is not allowing them to leave," said police spokeswoman Elly Florax.

She would not confirm whether the man had any explosives. Police had established contact with the hostage-taker but could not identify him, said Ms Florax.

Local media reported that the gunman was moving around the building with four hostages.

Onlookers said he had hung out at least two banners with "We misled" and "We lie" written on them. The banners were first placed on the fifth floor but some were moved to higher floors.

In a statement to state broadcaster NOS, the gunman said he was protesting about the "manipulation by the seller of broadband television". The action could be directed against Philips Electronics, which had its HQ in the building until last year.

Mrs Florax said the lobby was crowded with workers when the gunman burst in. She said he was making demands but she declined to say what they were. Companies in the Tower include Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers.

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