Several people are being held hostage in a nightclub in the Netherlands as heavily-armed police cordon off the area.

Around 150 nearby homes have been evacuated in the town of Ede while authorities deal with “a hostage situation involving several people,” police said on X.

Officers say three hostages who were being held in Cafe Petticoat, a popular bar and nightclub, have been released, but added the “situation is not over”.

Heavily-armed police have cordoned off part of the town and urged people to “stay away” from the area, adding: “Stay inside and don’t come and watch”.

Earlier, as nearby homes were evacuated, police said there was a person in the area “who could be a danger to themselves or others”.

National newspaper de Telegraaf reported the man who took people hostage was armed with weapons and explosives, citing several anonymous sources.

Police spokesperson Simon Klok told the Associated Press people were being held hostage in Ede but declined to give more details about the incident or say how many people were involved.

Russia-Ukraine latest: Russia fires 12 drones into Ukraine as Zelenskyy warns his country will retreat ‘in small steps’ without US aid

Several injured after shell explodes near UN observers in southern Lebanon

Peru: President Dina Boluarte’s home raided by government agents over Rolex watches

There is no indication the hostage situation has a terrorist motive, police said in a statement on X.

Images from the scene in Ede, a rural market town southeast of Amsterdam, showed police officers and firefighters on the streets in the cordoned-off area.

The municipality said that all shops in the centre of Ede would remain closed.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Related posts:

‘Together forever’: Husband of Brit murdered in front of daughter in Greece pays tribute More than 100 British tourists refused entry to Austria after COVID rules website mix-up Moderna developing autumn ‘super-booster’ to protect against Omicron and Delta Irishman held against his will in China for 3 years reunited with ‘unbelievably happy’ family New Zealand is reopening to the world – if you can manage to find a flight there No city has been hit as ferociously and as frequently as Mykolaiv – and it could get worse UK’s former Myanmar ambassador arrested in country – report Italian government holds crisis summit as pasta price soars ‘Backpack hero’ used bag as shield to chase knifeman who stabbed British girl Mexico decriminalises abortion nationwide Warming world nearing ‘point of no return’, says Pope Francis Lewis Hamilton to leave Mercedes and join Formula One rival