A 27-year-old man in Amsterdam tried to rob an Apple retailer by hiding a buyer at gunpoint — but it surely wasn’t iPhones or money that he was keen on.
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As an alternative, the person demanded the equal of $226 million in cryptocurrency and a secure exit from the shop positioned in Leidseplein sq..
“There’s an ongoing hostage state of affairs on the Apple Retailer at Leidseplein in the meanwhile,” The Amsterdam Police stated in a (translated) Tweet on the time. “To make sure the security of all folks concerned we aren’t in a position to share details about the state of affairs and/or actions taken by the police.”
The hostage was a 44-year-old man from Bulgaria who fled the scene late Tuesday evening earlier than the gunman chased after him.
The gunman, who police haven’t publicly indentified although the person does have a previous legal report, was hit by a police automotive after working after the sufferer and fell to the bottom the place he was arrested.
The person died Wednesday of accidents sustained in the course of the crash.
Amsterdam police reported that the person was additionally armed with inactive explosives on the time of the incident although there may be at present no recognized motive for his actions. He was additionally armed with a pistol and an automated rifle.
“We’re investigating the potential motives of the hostage taker and the explosives he carried on his physique,” Amsterdam police stated in a press release, per Reuters.
Police reported that round 70 prospects had safely escaped from the shop, with 4 others being discovered hiding inside a closet in the course of the escapade, all remaining unhurt.
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Apple additionally launched a press release on behalf of the corporate.
“We wish to thank native regulation enforcement for his or her distinctive work and ongoing investigation,” a spokesperson for Apple instructed TechCrunch. “Our groups and prospects took swift motion and confirmed unimaginable power and resolve right now, and we’re so grateful for the assist and care they’ve proven one another below such difficult circumstances.”
As public curiosity in cryptocurrency and NFTs continues to develop and turns into extra mainstream, tried robberies and crimes utilizing and demanding crypto are sadly changing into extra mainstream as effectively.
Earlier this month, two males have been arrested in Wisconsin for an in-home armed theft the place they demanded cryptocurrency of the victims, and final November, a Spanish tech entrepreneur was violently robbed in Madrid when robbers invaded his house and demanded he switch his Bitcoin to them.
