Pepper spray at the end of ADE party in Houthaven, at least one visitor robbed
A performance by DJ Paul Kalkbrenner at Theater Amsterdam was disrupted by pepper spray on Thursday night, resulting in at least one reported robbery. Organizers believe criminal gangs use this tactic to cause panic and steal valuables from attendees, a recurring problem during large events like the Amsterdam Dance Event.
A Thursday night performance by German DJ Paul Kalkbrenner at Theater Amsterdam ended abruptly around 10:30 p.m. when an unknown person sprayed pepper spray into the crowd. The incident occurred as attendees were heading to the lockers at the conclusion of the event, which was part of the Amsterdam Dance Event. Organizers from LoveLand reported that at least one attendee was robbed during the resulting chaos, a tactic they say is frequently used by criminal gangs to create panic while stealing phones and jewelry.
Police were unable to apprehend any suspects, as the crowd quickly dispersed following the disruption. Event representatives noted that such incidents have become a recurring issue at festivals across Europe, making them difficult to prevent through standard security searches alone. While organizers suggest that improved venue ventilation could help mitigate the impact of such attacks, the use of pepper spray to facilitate theft remains a significant security challenge during major nightlife events in the city.
Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
