Man arrested for attempted arson attack in the Dutch parliament

Every day, tourists, locals, and politicians alike walk through the cobbled courtyard of the Dutch parliament. Even in light of the recent news of plotted attacks on Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the Binnenhof is usually quite calm.

The keyword above being “usually.” Because yesterday evening a man tried to set fire to himself within the Binnenhof — you read that right. 😳

It seems he also tried to set fire to several doors, amongst others that of the Ridderzaal and the Council of State. While unsuccessful in getting a big fire going, traces of flames can be seen on the wooden doors.

Known to the police

The man was arrested and will be questioned today, reports the NOS.

While nothing is known about his motive, the police clarify that he’s known to them for exhibiting confused behaviour.

“Tonight, a man was arrested in the #Binnenhof for trying to set fire to himself. The man is known to the police for confused behaviour. One officer suffered minor injuries during his arrest. The man is held in custody at the police station.”

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Feature Image: zeferli/Depositphotos

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Christine Stein Hededam 🇩🇰
Christine Stein Hededam 🇩🇰
A Dane with a special place in her heart for Minnesota, Christine is now falling in love with everything Dutch. Between finishing her bachelor’s degree, learning Dutch, and doing yoga teacher training, you will find her wandering about the Hague. Always up for visiting new places, she loves to explore the Netherlands with friends and takes pride in scoping out cute cafés (wherein to discuss books, big plans, and food).

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