Issued on: 23\/02\/2022 – 11:58<\/span>Modified: 23\/02\/2022 – 11:57<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n The Hague (AFP) \u2013 <\/span>A man who held several people hostage at an Apple store in Amsterdam demanded 200 million euros ($230 million) in cryptocurrency before he was taken to hospital “seriously injured”, police said Wednesday. <\/p>\n The man, identified as a 27-year-old from Amsterdam, entered the Apple store carrying a firearm in the busy Leidseplein neighbourhood late Tuesday afternoon, sparking a tense five-hour long ordeal. <\/p>\n The camouflage-wearing assailant held one man hostage, a 44-year-old British national, according to reports, while four others hid in a closet. <\/p>\n It was initially feared the suspect was holding several people hostage, but he was reportedly not aware that several more people were in hiding in the building. <\/p>\n In an overnight press conference, police chief Frank Paauw said the suspected demanded 200 million in cryptocurrency before he was eventually apprehended by police. <\/p>\n The dramatic ordeal finally ended around 10:30 (2130 GMT) when the hostage asked for water. He left the building and then ran, prompting the suspect to chase after him. <\/p>\n The suspect was then hit hard by a police car before a robot checked him for explosives as he lay on the road, painted by laser sights from police snipers. <\/p>\n “A car from the special forces reacted very adequately and alertly,” Paauw said hailing the hostage for his bravery. <\/p>\n “The hostage has played a hero role. In a few split seconds he escaped this hostage situation, otherwise it would have been an even longer night and nasty night.”<\/p>\n Around 70 people in total were evacuated from the building and the area around the store was cordoned off.<\/p>\n The suspect was taken to hospital “seriously injured”, Paauw said, and investigations into the incident are ongoing. <\/p>\n Police were called at about 5:30 pm (1630 GMT) on Tuesday about an armed man in the Apple store, and images suggested he might have been wearing an explosive vest. <\/p>\n Several special police units were deployed with the first to arrive targeted by an automatic weapon, Paauw said.<\/p>\n He later tweeted the man did not have explosives on him. <\/p>\n All Apple stores across the Netherlands were closed Wednesday, and the site of Tuesday’s hostage taking will remain closed Thursday, the company said. <\/p>\n Leidseplein is popular with tourists and known for its lively bars and cafes. The area was quickly closed and the restaurants, bars and theatres were shut after the hostage taking.<\/p>\n \u00a9 2022 AFP<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/7ccee104-9497-11ec-8bd8-005056bfb2b6\/3a119b319f37792371e74f48a479004fa5aa36e4.jpg\")