'Man with bomb' aboard Amsterdam-Paris train arrested

PARIS

Dutch police have arrested a man who claimed to have a bomb aboard the Thalys Amsterdam-Paris train, Dutch media reported Friday.

According to the reports, a man locked himself in the train’s washroom and claimed he was armed with an explosive device.

The train was still in Rotterdam’s central station when the incident occurred.

"Evacuation Thalys Rotterdam. Passenger locked himself in WC [washroom]. Police have everything under control. No risk for our passengers," the train operator tweeted.

The train and the platforms were evacuated immediately; armed police and an anti-terrorist unit were also present at the scene during the evacuation which was carried out at 8.30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT).

Later, local television footage showed the suspect under arrest and being led away from the train station.

Rotterdam police later released a statement that the "young man, whose identity has not been established, had locked himself in the bathroom and did not respond …to the police".

After the arrest, a bomb-disposal unit searched the train for possible devices; "only personal belongings" were found in the bag belonging to the suspect, who was taken to hospital.

Rotterdam police said their investigation was continuing.

Last month, passengers overpowered a gunman aboard the Amsterdam-Paris Thalys train in northern France.