Title: Terrorist Attack Suspected in Rotterdam Bridge Stabbing Incident
Subheading: One Fatality, Another Wounded, Amidst Suspicion of Ideological Motivation
Rotterdam, The Netherlands – In a shocking turn of events, a 22-year-old man from Amersfoort has been arrested on suspicion of carrying out a terrorist attack at the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam, where one person was killed and another was critically injured during a knife attack on Thursday night.
According to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), the attacker is under suspicion of murder and attempted murder with a terrorist motive. Initial investigations suggest the suspect may have been ideologically driven, with reports indicating that he shouted Allahu Akbar multiple times during the incident.
The police were dispatched to the scene at approximately 8 p.m. upon receiving the report of the stabbing. Upon arrival, they found a 32-year-old man from Rotterdam and a 33-year-old Swiss national injured. The attacker and a bystander who managed to apprehend him sustained minor injuries.
A group of six individuals, including a personal trainer, are credited with overpowering the attacker. The Swiss national, who was injured while apprehending the suspect, was taken to a hospital for evaluation and released on Friday.
The attacker was found to be in possession of two carving knives or cleavers and reportedly charged towards a gathering of dozens of people. The OM confirmed that the suspect had been previously convicted of violent crimes and that while terrorism is the current suspicion, other motives have not been ruled out.
As the investigation unfolds, the suspect remains in restricted custody and is prohibited from communicating with anyone other than legal representatives. He will not be brought before an examining magistrate for an initial remand hearing until Monday, at which point he may be ordered to remain in custody for up to two weeks.
Following this period, the suspect will be arraigned at the District Court in The Hague instead of Rotterdam, as several court employees witnessed the stabbing and were involved in the subsequent investigation.
The incident has sparked an outpouring of reaction from local and national leaders, with Rotterdam’s mayor describing the attack as horrific and praising the bravery of the individuals who tackled the attacker.
As the case continues to unfold, the Dutch public and international community await further details on the motive and the background of the attacker, while paying tribute to the victims and the heroes who rose to action during this terrifying incident.
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