A knife attack on passersby in Rotterdam, Netherlands, has left one person dead and another seriously injured. Witnesses reported that the attacker shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the incident.
On Thursday, a man armed with knives attacked passersby near the Erasmus Bridge in central Rotterdam. The attack resulted in the death of a 32-year-old man and left a 33-year-old Swiss national seriously wounded. Police quickly apprehended the suspect at the scene.
According to police reports, the suspect is a 22-year-old man from Amersfoort, a town about 80 kilometers east of Rotterdam. The authorities confirmed that the man was already known to the police.
After stabbing the first two victims, the attacker reportedly moved towards a crowded terrace. Eyewitnesses told the Dutch newspaper “Telegraaf” that people on the terrace reacted swiftly, throwing chairs and tables at the assailant to fend him off.
Heroic intervention by kickboxing trainer
A 32-year-old kickboxing trainer named Reniel played a crucial role in subduing the attacker. Speaking to the TV channel NOS, Reniel described how he first tried to alert people to the danger. He reported that the attacker was wielding two long knives and was indiscriminately attacking people.
Reniel eventually confronted the attacker, using his skills in Krav Maga, an Israeli martial art, to bring him down. “He was screaming and cursing in Arabic. I didn’t do it alone, but with the people from Remastered (Editor’s note: name of the terrace), who threw chairs and tables at him. He was unconscious,” Reniel told NOS. The attacker was subsequently taken to a hospital with injuries.
Investigation ongoing
Witnesses told the police that the man had shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) during the attack. It’s worth noting that while this phrase is a central religious formula in Islam used by Muslims worldwide for centuries, some Islamic extremists have co-opted it as a battle cry.
As of now, the authorities have not officially released any information about the attacker’s motives. The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge in the coming days.
The incident has shocked the local community and raised questions about public safety and the potential for extremist violence. Rotterdam officials are likely to review security measures in the wake of this tragic event.
