Around 150 residents of a neighborhood in The Hague have been evacuated for the second time within 24 hours after police uncovered a suspected synthetic drug laboratory.
The first evacuation took place on Friday, allowing specialized teams to remove tanks containing approximately 500 to 750 liters of potentially hazardous materials located near the laboratory.
Residents were allowed to return to their homes overnight, but on Saturday around midday they were ordered to evacuate again so authorities could complete the dismantling of the laboratory and safely remove the remaining hazardous substances.
A police spokesperson told AFP that the discovery of such laboratories in residential areas is uncommon.
Local authorities warned that the removal and disposal of the chemicals could pose a risk of harmful substances being released into the environment. Residents are expected to return to their homes around midnight.
Four men, aged between 34 and 71, have been arrested in connection with the case.
According to Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant, the laboratory is believed to have been used for the production of MDMA and ecstasy pills.
