Five people - including an elderly woman and several foreign nationals - have been stabbed in an attack near Amsterdam’s central Dam square.
Dutch authorities said that among the victims were a 67-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man, who were both American nationals.
The other victims were a 26-year-old man from Poland, a 73-year-old woman from Belgium and a 19-year-old woman from Amsterdam.
Dutch police are continuing to investigate the motive of the attack. A man has been arrested and taken to hospital with an injured leg after he was detained with the help of bystanders.
Footage shared on social media showed a helicopter landing in the square shortly after the attack took place at 3:30pm local time.
"The motive behind the attack is currently unclear and under investigation. Police are considering the possibility that the suspect may have randomly targeted victims, but the exact motive remains unknown," said the Dutch police in a statement.
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.
Key Points
- Girl and elderly woman among victims - local media
- Motive of attack unclear
- Five people stabbed
- Where did the attack take place?
Who has been arrested?
21:28 , Athena StavrouDutch police said a male suspect had been arrested after the attack.
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.”
Authorities said in a statement that no motive had been established for the attack, but that police were considering a scenario where the man targeted victims at random.
Who has been injured?
20:55 , Athena StavrouFive people were stabbed according to Dutch police.
The suspect was also injured and taken to hospital after he was stopped by bystanders.
The victims were identified as a 67-year-old woman and a 69-year old man from the US, a 73-year-old woman from Belgium, a 26-year-old man from Poland and a 19-year old Dutch woman from Amsterdam.
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.”
Statement from mayor
20:22 , Athena StavrouMayor Halsema, mayor of Amsterdam on behalf of the Amsterdam Police and the Amsterdam Public Prosecution Office said: “The police investigation is in full swing and is currently the highest priority. We hope to gain clarity soon about the background of this horrific stabbing incident. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and loved ones.”
Foreign nationals among stabbing victims
19:53 , Athena StavrouFive people were stabbed at random on Thursday, Dutch police have said.
Authorities said that among the victims were a 67-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man, who were both American nationals.
The other victims were a 26-year-old man from Poland, a 73-year-old woman from Belgium and a 19-year-old woman from Amsterdam.
Pictures from the scene
19:44 , Athena Stavrou
Where is Dam Square?
19:25 , Athena StavrouDam 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.
Full story - Amsterdam stabbing
19:02 , Athena StavrouAn Amsterdam shop worker has described seeing people injured on the ground in the terrifying moments after a stabbing spree in the heart of the city’s tourist district.
Five people were injured in the stabbing near Amsterdam’s central Dam Square at around 3:30pm local time on Thursday.
Police said a suspect has been arrested and was also taken to hospital with a leg injury. He was tackled to the ground outside a fast food restaurant by members of the public after fleeing from the scene, an employee told The Independent.
Read the full story:
Amsterdam stabbing: Five injured in knife attack near Dam Square
Nothing ruled out - minister
18:37 , Athena StavrouThe Dutch minister of justice and security has said nothing has been ruled out in terms of the suspect’s motive.
"It is still far too early for that," said David Van Weel told local media.
The politician thanked the police, adding: "They were there incredibly quickly and responded very adequately. They did a fantastic job."
Some cordons still in place
18:26 , Athena StavrouSome areas in the vicinity of where the attack took place are still cordoned off with police tape.
Local media reported that two side streets off the main High Street have been closed off.
Dutch police said most of Dam Square has now been reopened, after it was closed to allow a helicopter to land.
No press briefing this evening
18:16 , Athena StavrouThere will not be a further press briefing from the Dutch authorities on Thursday evening.
A spokesperson for the mayor told local media that it is too early for further briefing and the investigation is underway.
Five people stabbed
18:05 , Athena StavrouA man stabbed five people and was arrested near Amsterdam's central Dam square on Thursday, Dutch police confirmed.
Police had earlier put the number of victims at four.
They said they had no further information on their condition.
UPDATE: bij het steekincident vanmiddag op de Sint Nicolaasstraat zijn niet vier maar vijf mensen gewond geraakt. Daarnaast is de verdachte zelf ook gewond geraakt. Zodra we meer informatie hebben, zullen we dit hier delen.
— Politie Eenheid Amsterdam (@POL_Amsterdam) March 27, 2025
Mapped: Where did the attack take place?
17:53 , Athena StavrouSuspect taken to hospital after arrest
17:34 , Athena StavrouAfter the attack, the suspect was detained with the help of bystanders.
He was then taken to hospital with an injury to his leg, Dutch media has reported.
Suspect 'kicked down' by bystander
17:26The suspect is said to have been arrested outside a Febo fast food restaurant near Dam Square.
An employee told The Independent: “I was trying to get to work and everything was closed down and locked off. The guy was laying there right in front of my work.
Apparently some guy kicked him and broke his ankle, because he got kicked down because he tried to run away. Some bystanders kicked him down and I think somebody kicked him in the face as well.
It sounds like it was well deserved ... One of my colleagues saw it happen, he was just smoking a cigarette.”
When asked what the atmosphere was like, they said: “Stressful - there were a lot of fucking ambulances, even a helicopter came. Everybody’s stressed out here."
Where were the stabbings?
17:04 , Athena StavrouAccording to local media and witnesses, the stabbings happened in multiple locations near Dam Square.
Dutch newspaper Het Parool reported that an elderly man and student-aged boy were stabbed on Sint Nicolaasstraat, a side street off the high street, Nieuwendijk.
The suspect is said to have then walked towards the road of Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, where he is said to have 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.
Employee at nearby shop describes panic
16:51 , Athena StavrouA staff member at a shop nearby the attack said a lady ran into the store for safety amid the attack.
Louis H, who works at Flagship Bike Tours, told The Independent: “It’s lucky we’re all safe. Just 20-30 metres from here, apparently some person started attacking some other people with a knife.
“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 … They were very quick and luckily they were helping. [For] these people here that got stabbed, luckily it didn’t seem lethal.
“Then apparently the guy went on to the Dam Square just past our store and stabbed more people.
“So luckily we are all safe and the people here got taken care of. “
Police press conference underway
16:40 , Athena StavrouDutch police are currently holding a press conference, local media has reported.
Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad reported that four civilians were seriously injured in the stabbing, with the suspect also having been injured.
He was arrested with the help of a bystander.
Police told reporters in Dam Square that the motive of the attack is still unclear.
Authorities meeting now, followed by press briefing
16:30 , Athena StavrouLocal media has reported that Dutch emergency services are currently meeting to discuss the earlier incident.
It is understood authorities will address the press after the meeting.
We will update you shortly.
Girl and elderly woman among victims - local media
16:19 , Athena StavrouA girl and elderly woman were among the victims, eyewitnesses told the Algemeen Dagblad newspaper.
“A boy then ran away,” one staff member at a nearby shop is reported to have told the Dutch news outlet.
An employee at a shop situated at the scene of the stabbing is reported to have told Algemeen Dagblad: “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.”
A passerby who fled into a nearby shop after witnessing a woman being stabbed told the outlet: “The woman fell to the ground. I’m shaking all over, it could have been me. I was in shock.”
Cordon lifted on Dam Square - reports
16:10 , Athena StavrouLocal media outlets have now reported that the cordon on Dam Square has been lifted.
De Telegraaf newspaper said the square had reopened after it was closed to allow a helicopter to land.
It reportedly flew away at around 16:30pm local time.
Though the cordon has been lifted, several shops have closed their doors early including the nearby Primark.
Latest pictures from Dam Square
16:07 , Athena Stavrou
Motive of attack unclear
16:01 , Athena StavrouDutch police have said they are not certain what the motive of the attack was.
Detectives said they would be seeking to establish a motive as part of their investigation.
De Telegraaf newspaper cited a police spokesperson as saying that officers had received reports of a robbery.
A motive is currently still unclear, but part of our investigation.
— Politie Eenheid Amsterdam (@POL_Amsterdam) March 27, 2025
Full story: Five injured in knife attack near Dam Square
15:50 , Athena StavrouFive people have been injured after a stabbing near Amsterdam’s central Dam square, police have said.
Police said a suspect has been arrested but said a motive for the stabbing remains unclear.
A large cordon has been set up on both Sint Nicolaasstraat and Dam Square, local media reported.
Footage shared on social media appeared to show a helicopter landing in the square, with injured people being taken to hospital.
My colleague Andy Gregory has the full story:
Amsterdam stabbing: Five injured in knife attack near Dam Square
Pictured: Dam Square cordoned off as ambulances attend scene
15:46 , Athena Stavrou
Five injured in knife attack near Dam Square
15:43 , Athena StavrouFive people have been injured after a stabbing near Amsterdam’s central Dam square, police have said.
Police said a suspect has been arrested but said a motive for the stabbing remains unclear.
A large cordon has been set up on both Sint Nicolaasstraat and Dam Square, local media reported.
Footage shared on social media appeared to show a helicopter landing in the square, with injured people being taken to hospital.
The stabbing is reported to have taken place shortly before 3:30pm local time, with De Telegraaf newspaper reporting that at least fourteen police cars and an officer on a motorcycle had swarmed the scene within 15 minutes.
