2025 Amsterdam stabbing attack

2025 Amsterdam stabbing attack
Location	Sint Nicolaasstraat, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Date	27 March 2025 c. 15:19 (CET)
Attack type	Mass stabbing
Weapons	Knives
Deaths	0
Injured	6 (including perpetrator)
Perpetrator	Roman D.
Motive	unknown

On 27 March 2025, a stabbing attack took place in the Sint Nicolaasstraat area in the vicinity of Dam Square in central Amsterdam, Netherlands, resulting in at least five injuries. ^{[1] [2]}

Stabbing

The attack occurred shortly before 15:20 local time ^[3] in the Sint Nicolaasstraat near Dam Square, one of Amsterdam's main tourist attractions. Initial reports received by police characterized the event as a potential robbery. Witnesses in the area described hearing "piercing screams" followed by momentary confusion among pedestrians and visitors. Several bystanders observed people rushing toward the scene where the attack occurred, while others fled from the area in panic. Police were called at around 15:30. ^[4]

The victims are a 67-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man with American nationality, a 26-year-old man with Polish nationality, a 73-year-old Belgian woman and a 19-year-old local Dutch woman from Amsterdam. ^[5]

The attacker fled the scene over Gravenstraat. On Nieuwendijk, the suspect was stopped and held down by a bystander. Video documentation of the incident revealed a man, later identified as a British tourist, restraining the suspect by applying pressure to his back while controlling his arm until police personnel arrived at the scene. ^[6] Several other bystanders physically confronted the suspect, with one witness describing that "some guy kicked him and broke his ankle" when he attempted to flee. The same witness indicated that the suspect may have sustained facial injuries during the citizen's intervention. The tourist who managed to citizen's arrest the suspect has been given a hero's badge by Mayor Femke Halsema. ^[7] The mayor stated that the British citizen preferred to remain anonymous, characterizing him as "very modest" with no desire for public recognition. ^{[6] [8]}

Response

Amsterdam police mobilized significant resources following notification of the attack. The emergency response included approximately 14 police vehicles, motorcycle units, multiple ambulances, and a medical helicopter that landed directly on Dam Square. Authorities established extensive cordons across both Sint Nicolaasstraat and throughout Dam Square itself. During the immediate aftermath, law enforcement requested the public to avoid the vicinity to facilitate emergency operations and investigation procedures. ^[4]

Arrest of suspect

A suspect was arrested by police. Police appealed for bystanders to send them video or photos of the attack. ^[9] The perpetrator was later identified as a 30-year old Ukrainian citizen from Donetsk referred to as "Roman D.". ^[10] Police stated that they had difficulty verifying his identity as he carried several identity cards with different names, and refused to cooperate with law enforcement regarding his identity. ^{[10] [11]}

Prior to the attack, Roman D. was reportedly staying at the Delta Hotel located on the Damrak, approximately several hundred meters from where the stabbings occurred. Investigations determined that he had equipped himself with multiple knives, suggesting premeditation. Initial investigations suggested the victims were selected randomly, with no apparent targeted motivation. According to witness accounts provided to media outlets, the suspect attempted to flee the scene following the stabbings but was prevented from escaping by bystanders. ^[10]

Following his arrest, he was transported to receive medical treatment for leg injuries sustained during his apprehension. As of 29 March, he was detained in the medical section of a correctional facility in Scheveningen. ^[10] A court date was set for 1 April 2025 regarding his future in detention, and is being investigated by Dutch police on acts of terrorism. ^{[12] [13]}

See also

• 2018 Amsterdam stabbing attack
• November 2024 Amsterdam riots
• Utrecht tram shooting
• Volnovakha bus attack
• Ukrainian refugee crisis

References

1. "Amsterdam stabbing: Several people wounded after knife attack near Dam square". The Independent . 27 March 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
2. "At least 5 people wounded in stabbing near Amsterdam's Dam square, suspect arrested". Reuters . 27 March 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
3. Quekel, Sebastiaan; Boere, Raymond (29 March 2025). "'Bescheiden' Britse held wist meteen dat het fout zat in Amsterdam: 'Hier gebeurt iets ergs'". Algemeen Dagblad . Retrieved 30 March 2025.
4. "Steekpartij met vijf gewonden in centrum Amsterdam, verdachte opgepakt". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). Mediahuis. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
5. "Belgische vrouw (73) bij gewonden van steekpartij in Amsterdam, slachtoffers lijken willekeurig gekozen". HLN.
6. "British man praised for tackling Amsterdam knife attack suspect". www.bbc.com. 29 March 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
7. "Brit die verdachte steekpartij overmeesterde krijgt heldenspeld". Zeelandnet.
8. "Man die Damsteker overmeesterde krijgt beloning voor heldendaad". Hart van Nederland (in Dutch). 28 March 2025. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
9. "Several people wounded in Amsterdam stabbing, police say". Sky News . Retrieved 27 March 2025.
10. "What is known about the Amsterdam attacker? - explainer". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 29 March 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
11. "Verdachte steekpartij Dam is 30-jarige Oekraïner". nos.nl (in Dutch). 29 March 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
12. https://nltimes.nl/2025/04/01/terrorism-formally-suspected-amsterdam-stabbing-attack-left-five-wounded
13. "Ukrainian citizen identified as suspect in Thursday's stabbing attack in Amsterdam - English Section". www.polskieradio.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 29 March 2025.