Dutch authorities have arrested three suspects in connection with devastating explosions that rocked an apartment building in The Hague, killing six people and leaving the community in shock.
The explosion, which occurred at 06:15 local time (05:15 GMT) on Saturday, destroyed five homes in the city's Tarwickamp area.
Police are exploring “all avenues” that could have led to the incident, and the arrests point to a possible criminal motive.
The suspects are being held in restricted custody, are only allowed to contact their lawyers, and are expected to appear in court later this week.
Officials announced that “more arrests cannot be ruled out.”
On Saturday night, we met local residents wandering in the rain between fire engines and police vehicles.
The quiet neighborhood was shaken by the loss of six people and uncertainty surrounding the nature and possible cause of the explosion.
The victims included three members of the same family – a 45-year-old father, his partner, 41, and their 17-year-old daughter. Their 8-year-old son miraculously survived.
Three other men, ages 31, 44 and 63, were also killed. Among them was a civil engineer from Greece, who was said to “love the Netherlands.”
Four others were rescued from the rubble of their former homes.
Several vehicles were confiscated – although it is unclear if any existed The car was seen speeding away from the scene of the accident Shortly after the explosion.
Police have received dozens of reports and are appealing for more witnesses and photos from pet cameras or CCTV.
Forensic teams are preparing to resume their investigations as soon as the crime scene is deemed safe.
The impact of the explosion extended beyond direct losses.
Four people were taken to hospital, including two who were sleeping in the basement of a pub at the time and were treated for smoke inhalation.
A wedding shop adjacent to the pub was completely destroyed, while the wine stock of another bar on the ground floor remained remarkably intact. The artist's studio was also completely destroyed.
Many residents were evacuated and remained in shelters while structural damage was assessed.
