Amsterdam: An English-speaking tourist who intervened to stop a violent knife attack in Amsterdam is being praised as the 'Brit hero' after he tackled the assailant and pinned him down to the road, restraining him from further assaults.
As per a report by Daily Mail, the attacker had stabbed five people in a violent spree before being restrained by the tourist, who was later commended by the authorities for his bravery. Several videos of the incident went viral on social media.
Have a look at one such viral clip here:
The Assailant's Dramatic Arrest
After the tourist single-handedly pinned the suspect down on the road, witnesses revealed that bystanders later helped subdue him until the cops arrived. According to Daily Mail, a police spokesperson acknowledged the man's courage, saying, "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."
Reports further revealed that the suspect was tackled outside a fast-food restaurant, with some bystanders kicking him as he tried to flee from the scene. An employee of the restaurant told The Independent, "Apparently some guy kicked him and broke his ankle. It sounds like it was well deserved."
Police Investigation Underway
As per the Daily Mail report, the attack left five people injured, including two elderly American tourists, a Polish man, a Belgian woman, and a 19-year-old Amsterdam resident. Authorities have cordoned off a large area near the Royal Palace to facilitate emergency response efforts.
While the authorities have confirmed the suspect is not a Dutch national, his identity and motive to commit the horrific crime still remain unclear. Justice and Security Minister David van Weel told Daily Mail that it was "too early to speculate" on the reasons behind the attack. Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema also assured that an investigation is "in full swing" to uncover further details.
