Five arrested after luggage left unattended at railway stations

Five people have been arrested after four railway stations had to be partly evacuated on Tuesday morning when luggage was left unattended.

Haarlem station and surrounding buildings were closed and cleared after two stray bags were reported at around 10.15am. Some trains were unable to stop at the station.

Luggage was also left standing in Rotterdam, Utrecht and Dordrecht. Police said there was no evidence that the incidents were linked, but they described the situation as “highly unusual”.

Three people were arrested at Haarlem station, while two others were detained at Utrecht Centraal after camera footage showed them acting suspiciously just before they dumped the bags.

In Rotterdam a pedestrian tunnel was evacuated while police checked two abandoned suitcases for possible explosives.

A woman in Rotterdam later came forward to say she had left the bags while she went into the city centre. She was not arrested.

Spokesman Jan Martijn Stout told NOS the incidents appeared to be unconnected, but the suspects were be questioned about why they had left the bags behind.

“Their role is being investigated because it was a significant disruption to public order,” he said.