Five individuals sustained injuries in a stabbing attack that took place near Amsterdam's Dam Square, the police reported. Among the victims are two Americans, a 26-year-old Polish man, a 73-year-old Belgian woman, and a 19-year-old Dutch woman; their ages range from 19 to 73. Authorities have apprehended a male suspect, who was subdued by bystanders and required medical attention for a leg injury.
The police are currently investigating the motive behind the attack, indicating that the suspect might have targeted individuals at random. Amsterdam’s mayor, Femke Halsema, expressed her condolences to the victims and their families, emphasizing that the police inquiry is actively seeking further details.
Emergency services were alerted shortly before 3:30 PM local time, responding to multiple reports of the attack. Officers arrived quickly, discovering the victims spread across Sint Nicolaasstraat in the city center. With the aid of onlookers, the suspect was arrested almost immediately after the incident.
A large area around the Royal Palace was cordoned off as emergency responders secured the scene, and an emergency helicopter was dispatched. Witness accounts describe a sudden panic, with one person noting an alarming scream that preceded the chaos.
Another witness recounted seeing a knife in a girl’s back, confirming the severity of the injuries. The police have called on anyone with video evidence of the incident to submit it for further analysis. Initially reported with four injuries, the revised count indicates that five individuals, along with the suspect, were affected.
