Several tear gas attacks reported during Amsterdam Dance Event
Shows at Gashouder and RAW Factory were allegedly targeted, linked to a string of jewellery robberies Continue reading...
Several tear gas attacks were reported during this year’s Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) , which have been linked to a string of suspected jewellery robberies.
According to Dutch news publication AT5 , dozens of robberies were reported during the five-day event, which took place from October 21 - 25 across hundreds of venues in Amsterdam.
AT5 first reported that tear gas was deployed at Gashouder during Franky Rizardo's set on Saturday, October 24, at around 7:45PM, after a scuffle broke out between attendees.
The altercation took place following a suspected necklace theft. Floods of people reportedly left the venue, with a Gashouder spokesperson telling AT5 that the venue has a "good air ventilation system, so within fifteen minutes there is completely clean air in the hall".
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The music was also turned down for five minutes, and all attendees were searched as they left in an attempt to find the suspect in the attack. No one was reprimanded.
A video shared on social media shows crowds of people attempting to leave the venue after the attack, some covering their nose and mouth. 15 people reportedly visited the venue’s first aid station, though none were hospitalised.
AT5 also reported that a similar incident took place at the SugarFactory on Saturday, October 24, during an all-night-long event from Adriatique. A 38-year-old Canadian attendee claimed to the publication that a thief ripped two gold chains from his neck.
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"When I tried to stop him, he pulled out something that looked like pepper spray or tear gas [and] sprayed it directly into my face from close range," he alleged. He also claimed that those nearby were affected by the gas attack.
Other suspected jewellery robberies were reported at an Audio Obscura event at RAW Factory, a show from Black Coffee at Ziggo Dome, and an elrow event hosted at Kromhouthal.
A police spokesperson confirmed the string of attempted robberies to AT5 , saying that they received dozens of theft reports. "It is difficult to say the exact number at the moment, because the situation may still change," they said.
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