On Thursday, a vicious stabbing incident occurred in the city center of Amsterdam, Netherlands, leaving 6 people injured, including the attacker. Shortly after fleeing the scene, the suspect was subdued by the public. The motive behind the attack is still unclear and the police are conducting a thorough investigation.
According to various media reports, the indiscriminate attack took place around 3:30 p.m. local time on Thursday. A man wielding a knife randomly attacked people on Sint Nicolaasstraat near Dam Square in Amsterdam, injuring 5 people severely.
The Dutch authorities stated in a press release that the injured individuals included a 67-year-old woman from the United States, a 69-year-old man, a 73-year-old woman from Belgium, a 26-year-old man from Poland, and a 19-year-old woman from Amsterdam. The police stated, “We arrived at the scene shortly after the incident and have cordoned off the area. More details will be disclosed later.”
Footage from the scene showed an emergency rescue helicopter landing at Dam Square to transport the injured to the hospital. A large number of police forces and ambulances remained on standby.
The police reported that the attack lasted for several minutes. The suspect, described as a young man with short blonde hair, was apprehended by a courageous bystander during the escape and later arrested by the police.
Police spokesperson Eline Roovers mentioned, “The suspect sustained leg injuries during the apprehension process and is currently receiving treatment in the hospital. He will undergo interrogation later.”
Regarding the background and motive of the suspect, the police stated that “it is currently unclear, but investigations are underway.” They urged anyone with information to provide clues and advised the public to avoid the crime scene to facilitate the police’s ongoing investigation.
Mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, stated, “The police investigation is being carried out comprehensively, and it is our top priority at the moment. We hope to shed light on the background of this dreadful attack as soon as possible. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.”
The incident, which occurred at a popular tourist spot in Amsterdam, has attracted significant attention due to the high influx of visitors it receives annually.