Police Arrest in Rotterdam

Police officers arrest a suspect in a Thalys train at Rotterdam Central Station, 

Netherlands, September 18, 2015


Police arrested a man who locked himself in a toilet on a high-speed train in Rotterdam 

early Friday, triggering fears Of another terrorist attack. 

A Rotterdam police spokesperson said: "Around 7:30 a.m. several witnesses saw a man 

jump on the train at Rotterdam central train and hide himself directly in the bathroom. 

They didn't trust it and neither did the police, so they evacuated the train and a large 

part Of central station." 

According to a spokesperson, at about 9.45 a.m. "(police) went in with a special team and 

a dog and we now have one man in custody." 

Police said the man was taken to hospital on a stretcher because he was feeling unwell. 

A backpack found in the train is being examined by Dutch explosive experts. 


Earlier Friday, a negotiator had been talking to the man while heavily armed special 

police could be seen on the platform. 

The train, operated by Thalys, was traveling from Amsterdam to Paris — the same route 

on which bystanders thwarted a potential terrorist attack last month, when 26-year-old 

Moroccan national Ayoub el-Khazani emerged from a bathroom carrying a Kalashnikov 

rifle. 

A spokesperson said police had no information that the man taken into custody this 

morning was armed. 

Europe is scared. Not only are there millions upon millions of refugees flooding in, but along with these new immigrants have come the threat of terrorist attacks as well. This article is directed at the public to make them aware that the authorities do have this issue in mind. With the recent threat on the train, on this same route, the authorities are taking extra measures with to protect public transport. The author of this article has been covering and living in Europe for a while so he is well acquainted with the culture and lifestyle. Since he's lived there for a while this automatically hits closer to home and he too feels the threat of these attacks. He wants to broadcast incidents that display the control authorities still have in Europe despite the recent problems with immigrant containment. The publisher for this article has been heavily involved in European politics and economy and so have special insight into Europe's issues but also want to present awareness and security to the public. A European myself, this new issue of terrorism in Europe hits close to home. Although many disagree, I think suspects, like the one in this incident, should be investigated even if it only turns out to be a false alarm. It's better to be safe than sorry and it sends out a vibe of authoritative care the public desperately needs.