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Security scare at Amsterdam's airport

Parts of Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport were sealed off after a report of a "suspicious situation" and the arrest of a man.

General view of Schipol airport in Amsterdam
Parts of Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport have been sealed off after reports of a suspicious situation. (AAP)

2 min read

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Source: AAP


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Heavily armed military police have sealed off part of Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport for hours after arresting a man for unspecified suspicious behaviour and summoning explosives experts to check his luggage.

Police in body armour and ski masks brandishing machine guns patrolled the airport for four hours on Tuesday night while the investigation was under way, stranding scores of passengers who could not get to their parked cars because parts of the airport were sealed off.

Flights at the busy aviation hub appeared largely unaffected by the security scare and trains to the airport's station continued running throughout the security scare.

In the early hours of Wednesday, military police spokesman Alfred Ellwanger told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that "no dangerous materials were found" in the arrested suspect's luggage and the tight security measures were lifted.

Ellwanger said the man who was arrested remained in custody and under investigation. He had no details on the man's identity. He said the arrest followed "a report of a suspicious situation", but didn't elaborate.

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The Netherlands has been on high alert since the deadly suicide bombing attacks on Brussels airport and subway last month in neighbouring Belgium.


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