Dutch family 'waiting for end of time' found locked away
A Dutch family who reportedly had been hiding out, waiting for the end of time, was found locked away in a secret room at an isolated farm in the Netherlands…
That's according to Dutch police.
Authorities say five young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 and an ailing man - who was identified as their father - were found near Ruinerwold, a village in the northern province of Drenthe.
The family apparently had no contact with the outside world for nine years.
They were found after one of the siblings escaped and sought help at a nearby café.
Local media reported that a 58-year-old man who is an Austrian carpenter and was renting the farm was arrested. Police believe the mother of the children had died before the family moved to the farm.
Police spokeswoman Nathalie Schubart said the investigation is ongoing.
(SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) POLICE SPOKESWOMAN, NATHALIE SCHUBART, SAYING:
"The people were brought to a shelter home, where they are taken care of and where they will be asked to tell their story.../"Part of our investigation is to find out what the people in that house were doing exactly. There are still many questions to which we have no answer. The investigation is still going on."
The news shocked local residents.
(SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) WOMAN LIVING CLOSE TO THE FARM, SAYING:
"We live not far away from the house. We always thought that one man was living in the house, who was renovating the place. We had no idea (of what was really going on)."
(SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) LOCAL RESIDENT, SAYING:
"Some people always go fishing just in front of that house. There is a little walking path just some metres away from the house."
(SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) LOCAL RESIDENT, SAYING:
"This could never happen here, you would think... But then it happens."
Officials said the group was receiving medical treatment.
Local media reported that the siblings had apparently lived in makeshift rooms inside the farm and survived partly on vegetables and animals from a secluded garden on the property.
