Allah-Las concert cancelled over terror fears
A van containing gas canisters was stopped by police in Rotterdam after a tip-off from Spanish colleagues
An American rock band has cancelled a performance in Rotterdam following a "terror threat" and the discovery of a Spanish-registered van containing gas canisters near the venue.
The Spanish driver of the van has been detained by local police for questioning.
"Police said the concert by Los Angeles band Allah-Las was called off after Dutch police received a tip-off from Spanish police at around 5.30pm local time," The Australian reports. The band receives regular threats of violence because of its name.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Rotterdam police spokesman Roland Ekkers told reporters it was "too soon to say if the van was directly connected" to the band's decision to cancel the show, according to CNN.
"It can also be someone who was going to a camping site, but with the threat that we have, and what we found in the van, we decided to investigate," Ekkers said. He added that "about five" gas canisters had been recovered and were being examined by explosives experts.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The deadliest plane crashes in US history
The Explainer American Eagle Flight 5342 was the first deadly U.S. passenger crash since 2009
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
How Elon Musk is transforming American government
Talking Points Trump's ally is moving 'with lightning speed'
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
4 ways to pay down student loan debt faster
the explainer Some of these changes may seem minuscule, but they add up over time
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
The resurgence of the Taliban in Pakistan
Under the Radar Islamabad blames Kabul for sheltering jihadi fighters terrorising Pakistan's borderlands
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff Published
-
Islamic State: the terror group's second act
Talking Point Isis has carried out almost 700 attacks in Syria over the past year, according to one estimate
By The Week UK Published
-
Germany arrests anti-Islam Saudi in SUV attack
Speed Read The attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg left five people dead and more than 200 wounded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK Published
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Russia's shadow war in Europe
Talking Point Steering clear of open conflict, Moscow is slowly ratcheting up the pressure on Nato rivals to see what it can get away with.
By The Week UK Published
-
Cutting cables: the war being waged under the sea
In the Spotlight Two undersea cables were cut in the Baltic sea, sparking concern for the global network
By The Week UK Published