The centre of the Gelderland town of Ede was sealed off by police on Saturday morning after a man took a number of people hostage in the Petticoat café.

According to the Telegraaf, a man entered the café at around closing time, armed with guns and explosives and threatened to blow the place up.

A video published by RTL at around 11.20 am show three youngsters – two young women and a man – with their hands in the air, leaving the café. They are all wearing jackets with its logo. However, hostage-taking is still ongoing, police said.

The owner told the Telegraaf earlier that members of his staff had been taken hostage.

A specialised hostage negotiator has been brought in, the paper said.

Petticoat is a popular bar among Ede youngsters and was hosting a 16+ night on Friday which ended at 4 am. “It is not the sort of café which you would associate with this sort of thing,” a neighbour told the paper.

At least 150 homes near the Petticoat café have been evacuated.

Heavily armed police have surrounded the area and sharp shooters are stationed on nearby roofs, eyewitnesses told local media.

Police explosives experts are also present. However, the police have said there is no evidence of a terrorist motive.

More to follow