Several hurt in multiple stabbings in Arnhem city centre, three arrested
Dutch police said stabbings broke out at three locations in central Arnhem on Tuesday evening after a large quarrel, injuring several people.
Incidents in this story
- Willemsplein, Centrum, Arnhem · shortly after 21:30: Stabbing reported at Willemsplein square
- Korenmarkt, Centrum, Arnhem · shortly after 21:30: Stabbing reported at the Korenmarkt
- Wielakkerstraat, Centrum, Arnhem · shortly after 21:30: Stabbing reported on Wielakkerstraat
Police in Arnhem said multiple stabbing incidents broke out in the city centre on Tuesday evening, injuring several people, after what regional newspaper De Gelderlander described as a serious quarrel among a group of people. Officers arrested at least three people in connection with the incidents, according to De Gelderlander, AD and RTL Nieuws, which all reported the case within hours of it happening.
The stabbings were reported in quick succession on Tuesday evening at three separate locations close to Arnhem Centraal railway station: Willemsplein, the Korenmarkt and Wielakkerstraat, RTL Nieuws and AD both reported. Police did not say whether the same people were involved in each incident or whether the fight moved between the three spots.
Officers confirmed that people had been injured but said the exact number was still unclear, AD reported. At least one man was hurt and taken to hospital by ambulance, according to a correspondent monitoring emergency-service radio who was at the scene.
Police responded with large numbers of vehicles, and many of the officers sent to the scene wore bullet-proof vests, RTL Nieuws and AD both reported, citing De Gelderlander. Part of Jansstraat and part of Willemsplein were cordoned off for the investigation, AD said.
Police said afterwards that they were no longer looking for further suspects, according to AD. The force gave no further detail on what had caused the quarrel that preceded the stabbings, or on the condition of those who were hurt.
All three outlets that reported on the incident, AD, RTL Nieuws and De Telegraaf, gave the same core details: three stabbing locations reported within a short time of each other, a preceding quarrel, and at least three arrests, though none gave a final casualty count as of Tuesday night.
What we know
- Multiple stabbing incidents were reported in Arnhem city centre on Tuesday evening at Willemsplein, the Korenmarkt and Wielakkerstraat, near Arnhem Centraal railway station.
- At least three people were arrested; police said the incidents followed a serious quarrel among a group of people, according to De Gelderlander.
- Several people were injured, including at least one man taken to hospital by ambulance; police said the total number hurt was still unclear.
- Police cordoned off part of Jansstraat and part of Willemsplein and said they were no longer searching for further suspects.
Not yet confirmed
- The exact number of people injured.
- What triggered the quarrel that preceded the stabbings.
- Whether the same people were involved in all three incidents.
Why it matters for Europe
Multiple, near-simultaneous stabbings in the middle of a city centre are unusual in the Netherlands, and Dutch police responded accordingly: large numbers of officers in bullet-proof vests were sent to the scene, and two separate central streets were cordoned off, while the number of people hurt remained unconfirmed hours after the first reports.
The incidents happened close to Arnhem Centraal, one of the main railway stations in the eastern Netherlands, meaning police had to secure several parts of the city centre at once rather than a single crime scene. Three arrests were made on the night, though police have not said how those detained are linked to the separate locations where people were stabbed.
Sources
Reported by 3 reports from 3 independent outlets in 1 countries.
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Questions and answers
- What happened in Arnhem?
- Police said multiple stabbing incidents broke out in the city centre on Tuesday evening, injuring several people, after a quarrel among a group of people.
- How many people were arrested?
- At least three people were arrested in connection with the incidents, according to Dutch outlets AD, RTL Nieuws and De Telegraaf.
- How many people were injured?
- Police said the exact number was still unclear; at least one man was taken to hospital by ambulance.
This article was written with AI assistance from 3 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.