Netherlands: Random Stabbing Attack in Amsterdam

5 injured including 2 Americans. Attacker arrested

Hat tip Gates of Vienna

-NOS (nl)

This afternoon in Amsterdam, a man went on a random stabbing rampage near Dam Square. Five people, including two Americans were stabbed. They are all in the hospital being treated, and two are described in serious condition. The as yet unidentified attacker fled on foot but was chased down by witnesses who held him for police. He was also taken to the hospital with a leg injury.

Police say the motive is unclear, but they are not ruling out terrorism. They have also, at this point, not ruled out the possibility of additional suspects.

This story is still developing, and we will update it with additional details as they become available.

Below are excerpts from various Dutch news sources, RTL, NOS, Het Parool, and AT5. The excerpts are translated by Fousesquawk.

https://www.rtl.nl/nieuws/binnenland/artikel/5501407/steekpartij-dichtbij-de-dam-met-meerdere-gewonden

Suspect also injured

5 injured in stabbing in center of Amsterdam, suspect arrested.

From RTL news 3 hours ago

On St Nicolaas Street, close to Dam Square in Amsterdam around 15:20, a stabbing occurred. 5 people were injured, two of them seriously. There is one suspect arrested. He is also injured, according to the police report.

Earlier, the police said that four people were injured, plus the suspect, who was the fifth person injured. A spokesman has corrected the information. So, there are six injured, including the suspect. All of the injured are reportedly in the hospital.

As to the identity of the suspects and the victims, the police have not yet given any information. As to the cause or motive of the stabbing incidents, the police have not yet shared information either. "That is part of the investigation," said the spokesman. It is also unclear if he acted alone.

https://nos.nl/artikel/2561307-vijf-gewonden-bij-steekpartij-centrum-amsterdam-verdachte-opgepakt

The witness says it was a "white man with spiked hair, around 30 years of age in blue jeans and a white t-shirt," City Broadcaster AT5 reporters that an older man was also injured 

https://www.parool.nl/nederland/live-identiteit-van-vijf-slachtoffers-van-steekpartij-amsterdam-centrum-bekend-mogelijk-willekeurig~b47abc9a/

18:51

Van Weel discounting anything as to cause

Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel can say nothing about the background of the stabbing or the motive of the suspect. "It's still way too early for that," he said. He also could not say whether there will be a terror investigation opened, but he says nothing is being ruled out.

https://www.at5.nl/artikelen/231704/liveblog-volg-hier-de-ontwikkelingen-rondom-de-steekpartij-in-het-centrum

(This article has a video of the suspect under arrest.)

According to police, victims stabbed randomly

The police have just given additional information on the victims who were stabbed. They are a 67-year-old woman from America, a 69-year-old man from America, a 26-year-old man from Poland, a 73-year-old woman from Belgium, and a 19-year-old woman from Amsterdam.

"We are conducting a full investigation, but it appears they were all randomly stabbed," says the spokesman.

https://www.gelderlander.nl/binnenland/geschokte-getuigen-zien-hoe-slachtoffers-amsterdam-van-achteren-worden-aangevallen-bel-de-ambulance~a7f02bf4/

The Gelderlander (nl) has security camera footage of the suspect running from the scene and being chased. His face is blurred. There is also an image apparently taken by a cell phone with slightly clearer image of the suspect.

*Update (3-27-2025): A source in the Netherlands tells me the suspect is a Ukrainian. Likely a mental case. This is not confirmed, however.

*Update (3-29-2025)

It has been confirmed that the stabber is a 30-year-old Ukrainian national from the Donetsk region of Eastern Ukraine, now largely under Russian occupation. Name and motive not released.