Amsterdam stabbing: 5 wounded in attack on busy shopping street

A knife-wielding assailant seriously wounded five persons in a stabbing attack on a busy shopping street in Amsterdam before he was taken into custody, the police said on Thursday.

The man who carried out the attack in the Dutch city was injured as he was stopped by a passerby. The attack happened near Dam Square in the late afternoon. No motive has been established.

“The suspect was detained with the help of a civilian,” police spokesperson Eline Roovers told The Associated Press.

Police cordoned off the area and several ambulances were called to the scene. A trauma helicopter landed on the square but later departed. A city council meeting involving Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema was interrupted because of the stabbing.

Last year, the city experienced several stabbings attributed to people with mental health issues. Amsterdam set up a hotline last month for residents to report concerns about irrational behaviour. The reporting mechanism was recommended after an investigation showed that a man was stabbed to death by his neighbour.