Witnesses have described the fear and chaos that gripped the heart of Amsterdam’s tourist district during a stabbing spree that left six people injured, including the suspected attacker.
The knifing attacks unfolded about 3:30pm local time on Thursday near Amsterdam’s central Dam Square.
Police said a 67-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man – both American nationals – were among the victims. A 73-year-old woman from Belgium, a 26-year-old man from Poland and a 19-year-old woman from Amsterdam were also injured.
A shop worker told The Independent he saw people injured on the ground during scenes of “panic” and confusion as people fled the scene of the stabbing.
“People definitely started to panic, and some people ran away in different directions because no one really knew what was happening. It was a panicky situation,” said the staff member at nearby Flagship Bike Tours, who gave his name as Louis H.
“One lady on the street saw the attack happening, and she actually ran into our store – all panicked of course. So we closed the door quickly, locked it and went upstairs to calm her down, calm ourselves down, have a drink and see what was happening.
“Then we saw some people were laying on the ground and luckily police were there almost right that second.”
An employee at De Drie Fleschjes cafe on Gravenstraat was reported by the Algemeen Dagblad newspaper as saying: “It was very frightening. Customers saw an elderly woman being stabbed in the back. She was with her husband. I only saw it when the woman was lying on the ground. It was very grim.”
Police said a suspect has been arrested and was also taken to hospital with a leg injury, but said it was not yet clear what had motivated the attacks.
The suspect was tackled to the ground outside the Febo fast food restaurant by members of the public after fleeing from the scene, an employee told The Independent.
“I was trying to get to work and everything was closed down and locked off. The guy was lying there right in front of my work,” the employee, who declined to be named, said.
“Apparently some guy kicked him and broke his ankle. He got kicked down [by some bystanders] because he tried to run away ... I think somebody kicked him in the face as well. It sounds like it was well deserved.”
The stabbings took place in various locations. Dutch newspaper Het Parool reported that an elderly man and a student-aged boy were stabbed on Sint Nicolaasstraat, a side street off the high street, Nieuwendijk.
The suspect was reported to have then walked towards the road of Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, where witnesses said he stabbed a young woman on the corner of the two streets. Another woman was also reportedly stabbed closer to the square on Gravenstraat, before the suspect was arrested on Nieuwendijk.
Footage shared on social media showed an emergency helicopter landing in Dam Square, with injured people being taken to hospital. De Telegraaf newspaper reported that at least 14 police cars and an officer on a motorcycle swarmed the scene within 15 minutes.
Dam Square is an area popular with tourists visiting the Dutch capital. It is in the historic centre of the city and includes landmarks such as the Royal Palace.
Amsterdam’s mayor, Femke Halsema, is reported to have been in a council meeting during the stabbing and to have withdrawn from a debate due to the incident.
Ms Halsema was instead meeting with chief prosecutor René de Beukelaer and police chief Peter Holla, her spokesperson told local outlets.
Speaking nearly two hours after the stabbings took place, Louis, who works at Flagship Bike Tours, said: “Now it’s calmed down. Everything has settled down a bit. I hope the people who got attacked are okay.
“It’s important we keep an eye out for one another. We have a beautiful city – we have to keep it beautiful and safe.”
