Suspect in Dam stabbing case said EU taxpayers should “pay the price,” court hears

Roman D., the 31-year-old Ukrainian suspected of stabbing people near Dam Square last March, told prison staff late last year that he believes “European taxpayers should pay the price” for financing the war between Russia and Ukraine.

During a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) said that Roman D., known as the “Dam stabber,” made several statements to prison staff. D. is also said to have told guards that he deliberately stabbed victims in the back, around the shoulder blades, because that would make them “gasp for air” the fastest and meant he did not have to look them in the eyes. Finally, D. is said to have remarked that he would “do it all over again” if he were released.

D. attacked five random victims in broad daylight, all tourists of Polish, American, Australian, Belgian, and Dutch nationality. The OM believes the attack was driven by a terrorist motive, a view it says is supported by his later statements to prison staff. The violence was eventually stopped when a British tourist managed to overpower him and bring him to the ground.

The OM has included witness statements from Ukraine in the case file. D. reportedly served in the Ukrainian armed forces until 2024. A major said D. once stated he wanted to go to Europe to end up in prison, where he would “benefit from subsidies and welfare payments.” The major added that these remarks were generally taken as jokes at the time.

D. has stopped cooperating with a behavioural assessment. The OM has therefore requested his placement in the Pieter Baan Centre for observation. This has caused further delays in the proceedings, and it is still unclear when the court will proceed with the substantive hearing of the case.

The next preliminary hearing is set for 1 July.