Dutch police say a knife-wielding man was seriously injured in Amsterdam during a stab wound attack in a shopping district on Thursday.
The Associated Press said the attack, which lasted several minutes, ended late Thursday afternoon when the suspect was stopped by a passerby near the city's dam square.
Police have closed the area. This tended to be handled by emergency crews responding with ambulances and trauma helicopters.
In a statement, authorities said police were investigating the situation where the suspects were randomly targeted, but no motive for the attack was established.
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Police officers will gather not too far from the area after stabbing them near the Dam Square in central Amsterdam on Thursday, March 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Deron)
Authorities have identified the victims as a 69-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman from the United States. A 73-year-old woman from Belgium. A 26-year-old man from Poland. A 19-year-old woman from Amsterdam.
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Police officers sealed the area on Thursday, March 27, 2025 after stabbing the area near Dam Square in central Amsterdam. (AP Photo/Peter Deron)
“The police investigation is full-scale and is a top priority at this point. We want to be more clear about the background to this horrifying stab wound,” said Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema. “Our hearts are directed at victims, their families and their loved ones.”
Police told the Associated Press that the suspect was injured when a bystander overwhelmed him.
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Emergency Service personnel gather near the scene on Thursday, March 27, 2025 after stabbing them near Dam Square in central Amsterdam. (AP Photo/Peter Deron)
“The suspect was taken into custody with the help of civilians,” police spokesman Eline Louvers told the Associated Press.
Guido Oostorm, another spokesman for the police station, said the victim was taken to a community hospital for treatment.
A State Department spokesman confirmed to Fox News that two U.S. citizens were injured during the incident.
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“The US State Department is prioritized over the safety and security of American citizens overseas,” the spokesperson said. “We are closely following reports of stab wounds in Amsterdam, Netherlands. We are spreading sympathy to the victims and the families of those affected. We can confirm that two US citizens have been injured. There are no further comments due to privacy or other considerations.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
