Inmate stabs guard, takes her hostage at Heerhugowaard prison

A prison guard was stabbed and taken hostage Saturday afternoon by an inmate at the penitentiary in Heerhugowaard, in an incident that involved both a stabbing and a hostage-taking before police ended the situation and arrested the suspect.

Police said emergency services were called at about 3:30 p.m. after a report of a stabbing inside the Penitentiaire Inrichting Heerhugowaard. Once officers arrived, it became clear that a female guard was being held hostage by a male detainee.

According to a police spokesperson, the inmate stabbed the guard in the face and neck using a shard from a broken plate. A police negotiator and an arrest team were deployed to free the victim. Officers ultimately overpowered the suspect, and the hostage situation ended around 5:00 p.m.

The guard was taken by ambulance to a hospital. Police said, “The victim, a guard from PI Heerhugowaard, was transported to the hospital in stable condition and conscious. The suspect, an inmate, has been arrested and transferred to a police cell. Detectives are conducting further investigation into the events. End of report.”