Yahoo News US band's Rotterdam gig axed over terror threat fear
A concert headlined by American band Allah-Las was abruptly cancelled on Wednesday (August 23) over a possible terror threat.
Fans were turned away shortly before the doors at the Maassilo nightclub in Rotterdam were to open when authorities located a suspicious bus that may have been tied to a terror threat, according to NBC News.
This bus was filled with glass bottles and had a licence plate registered to Spain, the country rocked last week after 13 people were killed in a terror attack when a van plummeted into a busy Barcelona crowd.
(Allah-Las perform in London)
Speaking to reporters shortly after tonight's concert cancellation, Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb said: "The ring that the police set up around the (venue) led to the detention of a bus with gas bottles.
"Whether the bus with gas bottles can be linked to the threat, that cannot now be established."
Aboutaleb also asked for the public and the media to avoid "swift conclusions" following the arrest of the van's driver, while a police spokesperson appealed for calm and vigilance.
(Rotterdam's mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb speaks to the press following concert cancellation)
On their decision to axe the night's concert, a police representative said: "Police took this information seriously enough that after discussion with organisers it was decided to cancel the event."
Digital Spy has reached out to Allah-Las's representatives for comment on the night's events. The Los Angeles-based band were touring their most recent album Calico Review.
(Miles Michaud of Allah-Las)
These events in Rotterdam come just three months after 22 people were killed and more than 200 were injured when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at Ariana Grande's Manchester Arena concert.
Just this week, it was announced that Manchester Arena will finally reopen in September with a benefit concert headlined by Noel Gallagher.
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