Investigations into fatal knife attack in Rotterdam

“Nothing is being ruled out” – not even a terrorist background. The Dutch broadcaster NOS reported, citing eyewitnesses, that the suspected perpetrator called out “Allahu Akbar” (Arabic: God is great). One victim was stabbed in a parking lot, the other near the Erasmus Bridge, which is popular with tourists. The news agency ANP also quoted witnesses who said that the attacker stabbed people at random around 8 p.m.

A witness told broadcaster NOS that he saw “a man with two long knives” “stabbing a young man.” He eventually managed to “overpower” the attacker.

According to authorities, the suspect is a 22-year-old from the city of Amersfoort. The man is “known to the police,” said the police spokeswoman, without providing further details. He was injured during his arrest and is still in hospital.