A warning that terrorists may be planning to use a cargo bike to launch an attack in Amsterdam during the New Year celebrations is part of a broad, European alert, the Dutch counter terrorism unit NCTV said on Tuesday afternoon.

The capital’s Parool newspaper reported earlier in the day that police had been ordered to be extra alert for cargo bikes because they could be used by terrorists.

However, according to the NCTV, there are no concrete indications that an attack is imminent in the Netherlands. The warning is part of an extremely broad alert notice covering rucksacks, cars and possibly bikes throughout Europe, the NCTV said.

Unusual behaviour

The Parool quoted from an internal police memo which stated: ‘one potential method could be a (cargo) bike with explosives. Be particularly alert in public locations and events over the coming days until New Year. Report unusual behaviour and objects.’

The city’s police force and mayor Eberhard van der Laan declined to comment on the claim, the Volkskrant reported.

The official risk of a terrorist attack in the Netherlands remains ‘substantial’.