Tear gas deployed at Gashouder amid string of ADE jewelry thefts
A scuffle over a suspected necklace theft led to tear gas at Gashouder during Franky Rizardo’s set. A SugarFactory attendee alleged a similar attack.
Tear gas was deployed at Gashouder on Saturday, October 24, at around 7:45 PM, during Franky Rizardo’s set at Amsterdam Dance Event. It was one of a string of suspected jewelry robberies. Dozens of robberies were reported during the five-day event, which ran October 21 to 25 across hundreds of venues, Mixmag reported, citing Dutch outlet AT5.
At Gashouder, a scuffle broke out between attendees following a suspected necklace theft. Crowds reportedly left the venue, and a video shared on social media shows people heading for the exit, some covering their noses and mouths. The music was turned down for five minutes, and everyone was searched on the way out in an attempt to find the suspect. No one was reprimanded. Fifteen people reportedly visited the first aid station, and none were hospitalized. A Gashouder spokesperson said the venue has a “good air ventilation system, so within fifteen minutes there is completely clean air in the hall”.
A similar incident was reported the same night at SugarFactory, during an all-night-long Adriatique event. A 38-year-old Canadian attendee claimed a thief ripped two gold chains from his neck. “When I tried to stop him, he pulled out something that looked like pepper spray or tear gas [and] sprayed it directly into my face from close range,” he alleged. He also claimed that people nearby were affected.
Suspected jewelry robberies were also reported at an Audio Obscura event at RAW Factory, at Black Coffee’s show at Ziggo Dome, and at an elrow event in Kromhouthal.
A police spokesperson confirmed the string of attempted robberies. “It is difficult to say the exact number at the moment, because the situation may still change,” they said.
