PRETTY DAM BRAVE
Incredible moment hero Brit tourist chases down & tackles Amsterdam knifeman as suspect identified as Ukrainian man, 30
The hero seemed highly-trained, prompting speculation he was an off-duty policeman or soldier
THIS is the incredible moment a hero Brit tourist chases and tackles down the twisted Amsterdam knifeman.
The man suspected of stabbing five people in Thursday's frenzied knife rampage has now been identified as a Ukrainian national, cops have said.
2
2
Do you more about the knifeman?
Please contact [email protected]
The attacker has been named as 30-year-old Roman D. from the eastern Donetsk region, Dutch outlet reports.
He was brought down thanks to a British tourist who chased him down a narrow street and tackled him to the ground.
read more in world news
The tourist, since dubbed the “hero of the Dam”, pinned the knifeman with his knee after a daring pursuit captured on CCTV.
Witnesses said the attacker was overwhelmed by bystanders before officers arrived at the chaotic scene yesterday afternoon.
Cops say the suspect used multiple knives and selected his victims at random - but have yet to reveal a possible motive.
The man, who was arrested, was later taken to hospital with a leg injury.
Most read in The Sun
Dutch police say their investigation is ongoing.
Praise has since poured in for the "humble hero" Brit who wrestled and detained the Amsterdam knifeman.
At least 5 people injured in horror knife rampage near Amsterdam’s Dam Square
Five were stabbed in the city-centre rampage before the tourist stepped in, earning him a medal and thanks from the city's mayor.
Femke Halsema, Amsterdam's mayor, invited the hero to her official residence and honoured him with an award for bravery.
She told AT5: "He is a very modest [...] He has no desire to become famous. He is now mainly concerned with the victims, he feels responsible for that."
Police chief Peter Holla told the programme the man came from a big city and was raised to stand up for fellow citizens.
"He instinctively felt he had to act," the officer added.
Incredible footage shows the unidentified Brit kneeling on top of the attacker, who he has pinned face-down on the tiled square.
He previously chased down and tackled the knifeman, bringing an end to several minutes of deranged violence.
The attacker's hands are pulled tight behind his back, skilfully held fast by the tourist.
He appeared comfortable handling the suspect, leading to speculation he was an off-duty policeman or soldier.
Dutch police later swooped on the assailant and took him to hospital for treatment to a leg wound.
A police spokesman told Dutch newspaper : "He did a great job.
"We're very proud of him, but we also want to point out that you need to be very careful if you want to make a citizen's arrest.
"Most people are not trained for this sort of thing."
Maarten Brinkm, head of the ACP police union, said: "A big thumbs-up for the decisive action of this hero. The heroic citizen can count on massive praise."
Cops explained a citizen's arrest is where "if you catch a suspect red-handed, you can hold him until the police arrive".
The victims of the stabbings were a 67-year-old American woman and a 69-year-old American man, a 26-year-old Polish man, a 73-year-old woman from Belgium and a 19-year-old woman from Amsterdam.
One of the women was left staggering with a blade sticking out of her back.
Officials have not concluded what motivated the attack, but said they are considering that it was a random spree and/or terrorism.
Mayor Halsema said: "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.
She added: "Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and loved ones."
Amsterdam's justice and security minister, David van Weel, said it was "much too early" to give details on the background of the attacker.
He added that terrorism had not been ruled out as a motive.
In the aftermath, a trauma team was deployed via helicopter, which landed in the iconic Dam Square, and a large cordon set up.
According to a worker at the local De 3 Fleschjes bar, diners saw an older woman and a young girl being stabbed in the back before falling to the ground.
One shopkeeper told local newspaper Parool: "I heard a knock and then I saw a girl had been stabbed in the back and a boy ran off."
Another witness told they suddenly heard an "icy scream" before panic broke out.
A third person added she heard a lot of shouting and screaming as people were seen running on the streets.
A meeting at Amsterdam’s Stopera building was interrupted, and mayor Halsema was pulled out of a council meeting when news of the attack broke.
Anyone with footage of the incident has been urged to submit it to police to help the investigation.
Amsterdam suffered several stabbing last year carried out by people with mental health problems.
The council set up a hotline for residents to reports concerns about suspicious or irrational behaviour.
Thursday's city-centre attack also follows a spate of terror-motivated violence across Europe.
A Syrian asylum seeker was charged with murder after a 14-year-old boy was stabbed to death in a knife rampage in Austria.
Officials say the 23-year-old was motivated by "Islamic terrorism" before his alleged role in the bloodbath attack that left five others injured.
Read More on The Sun
And in Munich, a mum and her child tragically died from serious injuries after a suspected Islamist terrorist rammed his Mini Cooper into a crowd.
The woman, 37, and her two-year-old daughter were among the 39 injured in the "shocking attack" said to be carried out by a rejected Afghan asylum seeker.
Topics