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Suspected attack caused COVID test centre explosion, Dutch police say

Prime Minister Mark Rutte condemned the suspected attack as ‘totally unacceptable.’

• March 3, 2021
Netherlands Prime Minister, Mark Rutte
Netherlands Prime Minister, Mark Rutte

An explosion at a Coronavirus (COVID-19) test centre in the northern Dutch town of Bovenkarspel was likely a deliberate attack, police said on Wednesday.

Nobody was injured in the incident in the town some 50 kilometres north of Amsterdam, a police spokesperson said in a radio interview.

A metal pipe at the centre exploded shortly before 7a.m (0600 GMT), causing five windows to burst.

At the time, only a guard was present at the site,who was not injured.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte condemned the suspected attack as` totally unacceptable.’

He said it was horrible that especially the employees of the Health Ministry were being targeted, who were giving their all to protect the country from the Coronavirus.

Health Minister, Hugo de Jonge called the incident “crazy.’’

Police were reportedly investigating the incident and looking for any further explosives.

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