Backpack at Antwerp Station Held Only Laughing Gas Canisters

A security alert at Antwerp Central Station on Tuesday morning prompted a three-hour lockdown of surrounding streets and several train platforms — only for authorities to discover that the suspicious backpack contained nothing more dangerous than empty laughing gas canisters. The incident, which began in the early morning, saw the Pelikaanstraat cordoned off and three of the station’s six tracks temporarily closed while police and the Belgian army’s bomb disposal unit, DOVO, conducted a thorough investigation.

Security Response Triggers Major Disruption

The backpack was discovered in the portico of the Diamantbeurs (Diamond Exchange) building in the Pelikaanstraat, directly across from Antwerp Central Station, one of Europe’s busiest railway hubs. Security services reported the package to local police, who immediately established a wide perimeter.

“We’re taking no risks,” said Wouter Bruyns, spokesperson for the local police, as reported by VRT NWS. “Several station entrances have also been closed as a precaution.”

The Pelikaanstraat was closed to all traffic — including pedestrians and cyclists — between the Vestingstraat and Lange Kievitstraat. Train tracks 1, 2, and 3 at Antwerp Central Station were taken out of service, with NMBS trains diverted to other platforms. De Lijn buses were unable to pass through the affected area, though premetro tram services continued operating normally.

DOVO Robot Investigates

DOVO, the Belgian army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal service, was called to the scene. Based at a barracks near Meerdaalwoud in Leuven, approximately 50 kilometers from Antwerp, the team arrived roughly 90 minutes after the initial alert. They deployed a robot to examine the backpack, which fired a shot at the package as a precautionary measure.

Jacques Callebaut, DOVO spokesperson, told VRT NWS that the robot’s shot “already gave a favorable result.” Upon further inspection by experts, it turned out the backpack contained only empty laughing gas canisters. “So this is a very unfortunately discarded piece of illegal dumping with major consequences for traffic and rail traffic,” Callebaut added.

The area was declared safe and reopened around mid-morning, approximately three hours after the initial alert.

Laughing Gas: A Growing Nuisance

Laughing gas (nitrous oxide) is commonly used as a recreational drug in Belgium and across Europe. Empty canisters are frequently discarded in public spaces as litter, and the Belgian government has taken steps to regulate its sale and use. The incident highlights how discarded drug paraphernalia can trigger significant security responses and public disruption.

Het Laatste Nieuws confirmed that the backpack was examined and found to contain only empty laughing gas canisters, with police spokesperson Bruyns stating the area was reopened around mid-morning.

DOVO’s Role in Context

The incident has also drawn attention to DOVO’s operations. Despite perceptions that the bomb disposal unit is increasingly called to Antwerp due to drug-related violence involving explosives and grenades, Callebaut emphasized that their intervention frequency has remained remarkably stable over four decades.

“Our figures for this type of intervention have been fairly constant over the past 40 years,” Callebaut explained. “We consistently carry out 100 to 150 interventions per year at the request of police or fire services — often in Antwerp, but also in Brussels and other cities.”

DOVO operates from three barracks across Belgium: Meerdaalwoud (Leuven), Langemark-Poelkapelle, and Zeebrugge, where they also maintain divers for underwater explosive ordnance disposal. In addition to police-requested interventions, the unit handles approximately 3,500 callouts annually for old bombs and munitions across the country.

Broader Implications

The incident serves as a reminder of the robust security protocols in place at major transport hubs in Belgium. Given Antwerp Central Station’s prominence as an international railway hub and the city’s experience with drug-related violence, any suspicious package in such a location triggers an immediate and thorough response.

De Morgen reported that all platforms were eventually reopened and train services returned to normal after the all-clear was given.

While no arrests have been reported in connection with the discarded backpack, the incident raises questions about the consequences of improperly discarding items that could be mistaken for security threats — and the significant public resources consumed as a result.

What to Watch For

Authorities have not indicated whether a follow-up investigation is underway to determine who left the backpack or whether the act was intentional. The incident may, however, increase public awareness about the unintended consequences of carelessly discarding items in public spaces, particularly in high-security areas like major transport hubs.