A car has slammed into pedestrians outside the central train station in Amsterdam, triggering fears after a string of terror attacks in Europe. The police, however, believe the incident was not related to terrorism.
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At least eight people were injured, two of them seriously, when the driver rammed his car into passers-by in front of Amsterdam's central train station on Saturday.
"There is no indication whatsoever that this is a terrorist attack," police spokeswoman Marjolein Koek said.
According to Dutch media, the car had been incorrectly parked on the square in front of the station. When the police approached the vehicle, the driver attempted to speed away but apparently lost control of car, and drove into the pedestrians. The black Peugeot than crashed into a nearby wall.
The police detained the man, who appeared to have been "unwell," officials said. The authorities will continue the investigation, according to the police.
Fresh memories of Manchester
Several ambulances and police vehicles were quickly deployed at the scene in central Amsterdam, with Europe still reacting to deadly terror strikes in London and Manchester. Islamist terrorists have increasingly been using vehicles as weapons in crowded urban areas.
In a separate incident Friday, Dutch police arrested a 29-year-old man who was spotted filming a concert outside the Philips Stadium in southern Eindhoven. The authorities had information that the man might had been radicalized, and decided to take him to custody as he "was filming and had no reasonable explanation for what he was doing."
As London awakes to the horrors of Saturday night's terror attacks, fear is being replaced by the need to clear up, follow up leads and move on. But the sense of loss remains palpable.
Image: Reuters/P. Nicholls
A call to arms?
Counter-terrorism officers near the scene of the London Bridge attack. Police continue to cordon off an area around London Bridge and Borough Market. British Prime Minister May hinted at a new approach to terrorism saying, "We cannot and must not pretend that things can continue as they are."
Image: Getty Images/D. Kitwood
The clue seekers arrive
Police forensic officers work near Borough Market in London on Sunday as police continue their investigations following the June 3 terror attack. Police said the public would notice an increased presence of security personnel over the next few days and weeks.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/N. Halle'n
A bridge too far
Members of the police and ambulance service assess the scene on London Bridge on June 4. They said their investigation would continue until at least Monday morning. This is the bridge where Saturday's terror attack began.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/D. Leal-Ollivas
May deplores attack
Prime Minister Theresa May spoke at Downing Street after chairing a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee. She said, "We believe we are experiencing a new trend in the threat we face as terrorism breeds terrorism."
Image: picture alliance/dpa/A.Matthews
Police offer condolences
A police officer carries a bunch of flowers with a message of sympathy near Borough Market. An officer armed with a baton tried to stop the knife-wielding attackers and suffered serious injuries. Twenty-one people were reported to be in critical condition.
Image: Reuters/P. Nicholls
Love will win
Flowers and messages behind police cordon tape near Borough Market after the attack that left 7 people dead and many injured on Saturday night.