Passerby Hailed As 'Hero' for Restraining Attacker As Americans Assaulted
A passerby has been hailed as a "heroic citizen" after he restrained an attacker with a knife who assaulted five people, including two Americans in Amsterdam on Thursday, according to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.
Newsweek reached out to the Dutch National Police for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Amsterdam had several instances of stabbings in 2024 due to mental illness, according to The Associated Press.
Due to the prevalence of concerning behavior, the city set up a hotline for "Care and Residential Inconvenience" so that citizens could report others who are displaying "misunderstood and/or unsafe behavior" last month, according to Amsterdam's website.
What To Know
A man with a knife attacked and injured five people, including a 67-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man from the U.S.; a 73-year-old woman from Belgium; a 26-year-old man from Poland; and a 19-year-old Dutch woman from Amsterdam, according to the Dutch Police's press release.
The police stated that the suspect used several knives during the attack. The attack lasted several minutes before the passerby tackled the suspect to the ground.
To prevent the knifeman from wounding others, the passerby wrestled the attacker to the ground and held him there until the police could come and arrest him.
The bystander sustained an injury to his leg and was taken to the hospital.
The suspect also sustained a leg injury and was treated in the hospital on Thursday before being transferred to the Penitentiary Institution in Scheveningen.
Speaking of the passerby's actions, an unidentified police spokesperson told De Telegraaf: "Among other things, with the help of a citizen who intervened heroically."
The five wounded people were found at various locations in and around Sint Nicolaasstraat, near the center of the city.
In a statement, the Dutch National Police wrote: "The cause or motive is still unclear at this time and is being investigated. The police are considering the scenario that the suspect made random victims. It is unclear what the motive was."
What People Are Saying
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said in a statement: "The police investigation is in full swing and has full priority at the moment. We hope to soon get more clarity about the background of this horrible stabbing. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and loved ones."
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Anthony Pompliano, an entrepreneur and investor, wrote: "This is the man that allegedly stopped the deadly knife attack in Amsterdam before police arrived. Heroes walk among us. Those that have the courage to put themselves in harm's way to save the lives of others should be celebrated."
What Happens Next
The suspect's identity is still being investigated. They also asked for the public's help and appealed to witnesses to send video footage of the incident.
Advertising by Adpathway
