British tourist who tackled suspect in Amsterdam stabbing is awarded hero's pin by mayor

The British tourist who tackled the man suspected of stabbing five people in Amsterdam city center on Thursday was awarded the hero’s pin by the city’s mayor, Femke Halsema, on Thursday. The man has said that he does not want any media attention and is mainly focused on the victims, Halsema said. The man was presented with the award on Friday afternoon at the mayor's official residence.

The bystander tackled the suspect before staying on top of him until the police officers arrived. Security footage shows the British man chasing the suspect, who sources say was an Eastern Europe in his early 40s. The suspect suffered a leg injury during the incident, which required him to be taken to hospital. He is now being held at the Scheveningen prison.

“He is a very modest British man,” Halsema said to AT5. “He has no interest in becoming famous. He is now mainly concerned with the victims. He feels responsible for them.”

The five victims of the stabbing are all in stable condition, with one of the five having already left the hospital. The man’s motive is still unclear. Police have said that they are keeping all options open and that a specialist in terrorism has also been brought in.

Police have been unable to confirm the suspect’s identity as he had several different identifying documents on his person when he was arrested. Sources have said that the suspect had been staying in the Delta hotel on the Damrak since Wednesday. Police conducted a raid on the hotel on Thursday evening.

Halsema said that the tourist heard a noise and realized that something bad had happened. He then wrestled the suspect to the ground. She said that he showed “great instinct” with this.

Amsterdam Chief of Police Peter Holla told AT5 that the man was raised to act like this. “He is from a big city where he has been brought up to look out for your fellow citizens. He instinctively felt that he had to act.”