A gunman takes hostages at the Apple Store in Amsterdam

Dutch police said that an armed man is holding hostages in the "Apple Store" in one of Amsterdam's main squares, noting that several people managed to leave the store.

"There is a hostage-taking in the Apple Store in Leidseplein," the police said in a tweet, and that their forces surrounded the place.

"Since the start of the hostage-taking operation, several people have managed to leave the store," the police added in a tweet, adding that they would not publish additional information on the current situation.

She added that she "reserves" the publication of additional information "in order to preserve the safety of the persons concerned."

The police, who asked internet users to refrain from showing clips and pictures, are working to determine the number of people in the store, according to Dutch public television, NOS.

Footage posted on social media showed an armed man holding an unarmed one.

The AT5 media outlet reported that several witnesses heard gunfire inside the Apple Store.

Security forces deployed in the area, along with several specialized units, to "control the situation," according to the police.

The police received a report of an armed robbery and the theft turned into a hostage-taking.

"We appeal to people in the areas overlooking the Apple Store building to refrain from showing footage or live broadcasts in order to preserve the safety of the people concerned and the efforts of the police," the police said.

She asked the residents of the area, merchants and workers in the square not to go out to follow what is happening.

"We are currently reserving the release of information about the situation in the Apple Store in order not to affect the investigation and our efforts there," the police confirmed.

"Of course we also see pictures on social media about the situation in Leidseplein.

We guarantee the investigation of these photos and footage.”

Freelance journalist Tim Vachmakers, who was in another building overlooking the square, tweeted that he saw policemen armed with pistols.

"The square was emptied and people stayed in bars and closed the doors," while people moved away from the windows, he said.

The building he was in was later evacuated, according to what he confirmed in a tweet.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news