Fri Sep 20, 3:08 PM General 3,524 times read
Rotterdam – The random stabbing yesterday around Willemsplein and Erasmusbrug is a big shock. A 32-year-old from Rotterdam died, a 33-year-old man from Switzerland was seriously injured. The police arrested a 22-year-old man from Amersfoort, he is also injured in hospital. The police are still investigating the motive and course of events. This is what we know now:
– Shortly after 20:00, a report was made of a man who had seriously injured two victims with a knife. Emergency services were there quickly and provided first aid.
– The 32-year-old man was resuscitated but died on the spot from his injuries. The other victim (the man from Switzerland) was rushed to a hospital.
– Personal trainer Reniël Litecia sees the drama happening and decides to chase after the man with the knife (or two knives, that is still unclear).
– The armed man is scaring the living daylights out of people enjoying a beautiful late summer evening at the Willemsplein near Prachtig and Remastered. Many people are fleeing inside or using furniture to keep the man at bay.
– In Remastered, Litecia intervenes. He knocks down the suspect, with the help of other bystanders. The man from Amersfoort is injured. The personal trainer and the other bystanders become the heroes of the evening, who prevented worse. Mayor Aboutaleb has already announced that he will thank them.
– Aboutaleb was in the Doelen during the drama itself, where about a thousand guests said goodbye to him. Deputy mayor Buijt took over his duties. Aboutaleb later told ad.nl: ‘Extremely horrible, I can’t say it any other way. Our thoughts go out to the families of the victims.’
– There has also been contact between our mayor and the mayor of Amersfoort. It must be investigated whether there was a terrorist motive (the man allegedly shouted ‘alahoe akbar’) or whether this was a confused psychiatric patient. In any case, he was known to the police. Prime Minister Schoof said today that he understood that it was ‘possibly a confused man.’
– The police have started a major investigation. Camera footage is being viewed and witnesses are being interviewed. Many people were present at the stabbing incident and have already spoken to the police and shared a lot of important information. The police hope that more witnesses will come forward.
