Police have raced to the scene of a car crash in Amsterdam after a vehicle reportedly carrying explosives veered off the road amid a pursuit. Officers were alerted to a ram-raid in the German town of Fürth at around 4.30am on Tuesday and tracked the vehicle used, a BMW M1, to Amsterdam-Osdorp.
The police, the military and other emergency services are on scene on Nierkerkestraat. A police spokesperson said multiple people fled the scene after the chase, with witnesses reporting that they saw four men get out of the car.
Homes within a 100-metre radius of where the car was discovered were evacuated as a precaution while the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team investigates.
The Special Intervention Service (DSI) also searched some homes in the area to see if the suspects were hiding there.
A police helicopter was seen circling above the area and the street has been cordoned off.
German police said nothing was taken during the ram-raid on the ATM, though the building was severely damaged and a fire broke out.
Dutch outlet Nos said the operation in Amsterdam has since been upgraded to a major incident involving a coordinated effort between emergency services.
Videos shared on social media show a number of ambulances at the scene on standby.
Police have urged any witnesses or anyone with footage of the incident to come forward as their investigation continues.