Witnesses recount panic unfolding in the tourist-heavy area as authorities investigate the motives behind the attack.
**Stabbing Incident in Amsterdam Leaves Five Injured**
**Stabbing Incident in Amsterdam Leaves Five Injured**
A violent attack in the heart of Amsterdam has led to multiple injuries, prompting swift police action.
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Five individuals were injured in a stabbing incident near Dam Square in Amsterdam, according to local police reports. Among the injured are two Americans, a Polish man, a Belgian woman, and a Dutch woman, with ages ranging from 19 to 73.
The suspect, a male who has been apprehended, was subdued by bystanders as he attempted to flee and was later hospitalized due to a leg injury. The investigation into the motive for the attack is currently underway, with authorities exploring the possibility that victims were randomly selected.
Amsterdam's mayor, Femke Halsema, expressed her condolences to the victims and their families, stating that the police investigation is progressing rapidly. "Our hearts go out to the victims and their loved ones," she said.
Emergency services responded to multiple calls before 15:30 local time (14:30 GMT) and found victims scattered at various locations near Sint Nicolaasstraat. Following the attack, a significant area around the Royal Palace, situated prominently in the city's historic district, was cordoned off. An emergency helicopter was dispatched to assist.
Witness accounts describe a chaotic scene marked by screams and panic. A bystander recounted hearing an "icy scream" followed by confusion as people rushed to safety. Another witness reported observing a young woman with a knife protruding from her back as cries for an ambulance filled the air.
Authorities are encouraging anyone with footage or images related to the incident to come forward with evidence. Initially, reports indicated four injuries, but official updates confirm that five individuals were harmed alongside the suspect.
Five individuals were injured in a stabbing incident near Dam Square in Amsterdam, according to local police reports. Among the injured are two Americans, a Polish man, a Belgian woman, and a Dutch woman, with ages ranging from 19 to 73.
The suspect, a male who has been apprehended, was subdued by bystanders as he attempted to flee and was later hospitalized due to a leg injury. The investigation into the motive for the attack is currently underway, with authorities exploring the possibility that victims were randomly selected.
Amsterdam's mayor, Femke Halsema, expressed her condolences to the victims and their families, stating that the police investigation is progressing rapidly. "Our hearts go out to the victims and their loved ones," she said.
Emergency services responded to multiple calls before 15:30 local time (14:30 GMT) and found victims scattered at various locations near Sint Nicolaasstraat. Following the attack, a significant area around the Royal Palace, situated prominently in the city's historic district, was cordoned off. An emergency helicopter was dispatched to assist.
Witness accounts describe a chaotic scene marked by screams and panic. A bystander recounted hearing an "icy scream" followed by confusion as people rushed to safety. Another witness reported observing a young woman with a knife protruding from her back as cries for an ambulance filled the air.
Authorities are encouraging anyone with footage or images related to the incident to come forward with evidence. Initially, reports indicated four injuries, but official updates confirm that five individuals were harmed alongside the suspect.
