In Amsterdam, a man with a knife injured five people, two of whom were from the U.S., in a shopping area on Thursday, as reported by Dutch police.

The Associated Press mentioned that the assault, which went on for a few minutes, came to an end when a bystander intervened near Dam Square in the late afternoon on Thursday.

Police closed off the area, which was tended to by emergency crews who responded in ambulances and a trauma helicopter.

Law enforcement stated the reason behind the attack was not clear at the moment, but they were looking into a scenario where the assailant seemed to be targeting victims at random.

Emergency services personnel gather near the scene after a stabbing near Dam Square in central Amsterdam, Thursday, March 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Delong)

“The suspect was detained with the help of a civilian,” police spokesperson Eline Roovers told the AP.

Guido Oostorm, another spokesperson for the police department, said the victims had been taken to area hospitals for treatment.

A State Department spokesperson confirmed to Fox News that two U.S. citizens were injured during the incident.

“The U.S. Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas,” the spokesperson said. “We are closely following reports of a stabbing in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. We extend our sympathies to the victims and to the families of those affected. We can confirm that two U.S. citizens were injured. Due to privacy and other considerations, we have no further comment.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.