The suspect in the fatal stabbing on Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam denies being a terrorist. This was revealed during the initial court session.
The September incident resulted in the death of a 32-year-old German and seriously injured a 33-year-old Swiss. The suspect, 22-year-old Ayoub M., claimed he was in a psychotic state during the attack.
The prosecution accuses him of murder and attempted murder with a terrorist intent, citing witness reports of the suspect shouting “Allahu Akbar.” The prosecutor suggested that the suspect aimed to maximize casualties at the busy location, pointing to a terrorist motive. Evidence was found on the suspect’s phone of searches for ISIS beheading videos.
Earlier, M. had called his first victim an “infidel” and claimed all men without beards were infidels. He later stated he was in a psychosis due to a change in medication.
M. will be observed at the Pieter Baan Center, pending the acquisition of his medical records. The case is expected to be substantively addressed next year.
Previously, M. was convicted for stabbing his mother in 2022, resulting in conditional psychiatric treatment.
Source: NOS