No explosives in Amersfoort house

11 November 2004

AMSTERDAM — A search of a house in the central Dutch city Amersfoort — which led to the evacuation of neighbours on Wednesday — did not uncover any explosives, police have said.

Police officers in Amersfoort said the search was linked to the arrest of a man on Wednesday suspected of terrorist activities.

Residents of nine nearby houses were evacuated as a precaution before the search. The security cordon around the area was lifted and the neighbours were allowed to return home at midnight.

The authorities have confirmed the arrest and search in Amersfoort was connected to the investigation which led to a day-long stand-off with terror suspects in The Hague.

Four officers attempting to raid a house in the Laak district of The Hague were injured in the early hours of Wednesday when a hand grenade was thrown at them.

One of the officers remains in serious condition, but his life is not believed to be in danger.

After a siege lasting more than 12 hours, Special Forces officers used tear gas to drive two suspects out of the house. One was wounded in the shoulder during the operation.

Four other suspects were arrested in Amsterdam on Wednesday as part of the investigation into terrorism committed by Muslim extremists.

The authorities have so far declined to give any details about the men being held.

Subject: Dutch news