Four awarded for heroism in deadly Erasmusbrug stabbing
Four men were awarded heroism medals Wednesday for their actions during the deadly stabbing near the Erasmusbrug on September 19, 2024. Rotterdam Mayor Carola Schouten presented the honors in recognition of their efforts to intervene during the attack.
Three of the men received the Royal Medal of Honor for Humanitarian Aid in silver for acting despite the risk to their own lives. The fourth man was awarded the silver Carnegie Hero Fund Medal for providing aid and support to one of the victims, who later succumbed to his injuries.
The incident occurred shortly after 8 p.m. on September 19 near the Erasmusbrug. Suspect Ayoub M. allegedly attacked two men, fatally wounding one of them. The victim, 32-year-old Philipp, was a German designer and landscape architect who had moved to Rotterdam to pursue his career.
Emergency services were immediately dispatched following a high-priority alert from the Rotterdam emergency center. The suspect was later apprehended.
Ayoub M., 22, was already known to law enforcement for a previous knife attack in 2022. Sources confirmed that his own mother was the victim in that earlier incident. Authorities suspect he struck again at the Erasmusbrug, this time with fatal consequences.
