Armed Man Demanded $226M in Crypto After Taking a Hostage in Apple Store

A 27-year-old Amsterdam citizen, armed with a pistol and an automatic rifle, took one person hostage at an Apple store near the city center. Interestingly, the man demanded $226 million in cryptocurrencies and safe passage out of the building to release the captive.

Summary of the Attack

According to a coverage by Dutch News, the criminal entered the Apple shop on the Leidseplein Square at around 5:30 p.m. holding weapons in both his hands. By the time of the burst, there were about 70 people in the store as the gunman took one as a hostage. The victim is thought to be a 44-year-old British national who was a customer at the building.

The 27-year-old was pointing his gun at him while firing at least four shots in the air to intimidate all the other individuals.

The shock of the attack was so extreme that four people remained hidden in a broom cupboard on the ground floor. “They lived in terror for hours,” the local police said.

Law enforcement agents were quick to react, and at around 6 p.m., they were at the square. Once he saw that the police had arrived, the criminal initiated contact, demanding $226 million in digital assets to release the hostage. Apart from the weapons, he was also wearing a jacket designed to look like a bomb, eyewitnesses revealed.

“He threatened a hostage with a gun and threatened to blow himself up, so we took it very seriously,” a police spokesman said.

Happy End After the Drama

At around 10:30 p.m., the gunman asked for water, which the police officers delivered by a robot. Once he left the shop to pick it up, the hostage took the opportunity and ran off. The criminal started chasing him, but law enforcement agents quickly reacted, hitting the lawbreaker with a police car.

Knocked on the ground, he was taken to hospital in poor health condition. Despite being treated for serious injuries, the gunman was able to speak in the ambulance.

The hostage and the rest of the people inside the store were unharmed after the incident. Amsterdam police chief Frank Pauw praised the courage, which the British man showed:

“The hostage played a heroic role by forcing a breakthrough. Otherwise, this could have been a long night.”

Apple thanked Dutch police for their “exceptional work,” adding they are “incredibly grateful” that all customers and employees are safe after this “terrifying experience.”

Featured Image Courtesy of BBC