VAN RAMS DUTCH DAILY’S OFFICE
Act believed to be intentional, but no one was hurt and driver fled, say cops
DUTCH police are investigating after a van deliberately slammed into the headquarters of one of the Netherlands’ top newspapers and media groups yesterday, catching fire, but not causing any injuries.
“About 4am, a delivery van was driven into the facade of a publishing house in Basisweg” in Amsterdam, police said.
The building houses the head office of the tabloid De Telegraaf, the country’s top-selling paper, which focuses on sports, crime and celebrity gossip.
Police said the act was believed to be intentional, but no one was hurt and the driver fled, most likely in a dark-coloured Audi car. They launched a manhunt and are appealing for information.
The van burst into flames on impact, and fire services were swiftly called to the scene.
Television images showed fire fighters dousing a huge blaze that engulfed the white van lodged in the building’s glassfronted facade.
Dawn revealed the area had been completely charred and reduced to twisted metal, and the Telegraaf said it believed it had been a deliberate attack.
“We will not let ourselves be intimidated,” said editor-in-chief Paul Jansen, adding that it was too early to speculate who was behind the incident.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte said while much remained unclear, the incident was a “slap in the face to the free press and to Dutch democracy”.
His government was “alert and vigilant”, he said in a tweet.
De Telegraaf said the van could not penetrate the building as the front windows were made of special safety glass.
But the Dutch news agency said a concrete block had recently been removed from the front to allow a construction work, which might have allowed the van to hurtle into the building.
Amsterdam Mayor Jozias van Aartsen said he spoke to the prosecution service about possible extra security measures to protect De Telegraaf, as well as other media organisations in the city.