On the morning of Monday 13 March 1978, at 10:15, three South-Moluccans seized the Province Hall in Assen, Netherlands.

Some of the people inside escaped by jumping out of the window, including the Queen's Commissioner of the Drenthe province.

The attackers demanded the release of 21 prisoners who were involved in earlier hijackings, and free transport to Schiphol airport and out of the country.

[1] A photographer was wounded and an ambulance trying to get to the body of Ko de Groot was shot at.

The next day, 14 March at 2:34 pm, they raided the building from outside and from the basement, shortly after the attackers' deadline.