A terrorist attack was thwarted in Rotterdam on Wednesday evening, Dutch police said. A driver from Spain was detained and a van full of gas canisters was recovered before it could attack a concert. The concert, featuring the Los Angeles-based band Allah-Las, was canceled earlier that evening.
BREAKING: The mayor of Rotterdam says police have detained the driver of a van from Spain after receiving a terror warning.
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 23, 2017
BREAKING: Van with gas cannisters found near concert venue in Rotterdam after tip from Spanish police, mayor says
— BNO News (@BNONews) August 23, 2017
The venue, Maassilo, said on their Twitter account the show was canceled due to a terror threat.
In verband met een terreurdreiging gaat het concert van Allah Las op last van de politie vanavond niet door!
— Maassilo (@Maassilo) August 23, 2017
The tweet is roughly translated to "In connection with a terror threat, the police have ordered the Allah Las show to be canceled."
The police in Rotterdam said they acted on a tip from Spanish police in canceling the show and issuing a terror warning.
BREAKING: Rotterdam mayor: Terror warning linked to cancellation of rock concert came from Spanish police.
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 23, 2017
The band's name has caused controversy in Muslim countries before, from people who erroneously thought that the group was mocking their religious beliefs. (They chose the name because they wanted something "holy sounding.") A concert in Turkey was canceled due to concerns over the group's name.
A suspect name or any sort of motive has not yet been disclosed by Dutch police.
Notebook