Dutch gig cancelled over terror tip-off Published duration 24 August 2017

image copyright AFP/Getty image caption The van was found in a street near the venue

A van containing gas canisters has been discovered near a music venue in Rotterdam, hours after a tip-off from Spanish police led to the cancellation of a rock concert.

The driver of the Spain-registered van was detained by police, Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb told journalists.

US band Allah-Las - who often get threats because of their name - had been due to perform at The Maassilo.

But the warning led to the gig being called off at the last minute.

However, Mr Aboutaleb said it was not clear if the van and the terror threat were linked.

The warning came amid a heightened sense of alert after attacks in Spain last week.

But a judicial sources told Reuters news agency that there was no direct link between those attacks and the tip from Spanish authorities, which is said to be the result of a longstanding investigation.

Dutch police have arrested the Spanish driver of the van and taken him for questioning.

A bomb squad was examining the vehicle, reports said. Police wearing bulletproof vests were at the venue, which was evacuated.

image copyright EPA image caption Gas canisters were found in a van near the venue

"The ring that the police set up around the concert hall led to the detention of a van with gas bottles," Mr Aboutaleb said.

"Whether the van with gas bottles can be linked to the threat, that cannot now be established," he added, warning against "swift conclusions".

In last week's attacks in Catalonia, 15 people were killed in Barcelona and the town of Cambrils.

Those attacks followed a blast at a house full of gas canisters where the jihadists involved were reportedly preparing explosives.

In an interview last year, the group Allah-Las told The Guardian newspaper that they regularly received messages from Muslims offended by the use of the word Allah - Arabic for God - in their name.

The group said they had wanted a religious-sounding name after being inspired by the band The Jesus and Mary Chain.