[3][4][5] At around 12:10 local time (CET) on 31 August 2018 a man who had recently arrived by train was observed by security staff in the west side tunnel of Amsterdam Centraal Station.

[7] Train services were interrupted and the station, which was very busy on a Friday with many travellers from Amsterdam Schiphol airport, was temporarily closed.

[5][11] Dutch authorities said that he was aggrieved against Netherlands and believed that "the Prophet Muhammad, the Quran, Islam and Allah are repeatedly insulted" in the country, specifically referring to Geert Wilders.

In this country, discussions are conducted with words, not with knives.’[15] "The appeals court calls it a cowardly attack,'' it said in a statement, adding that "it is thanks to the very fast response of the police that there weren't more victims.

"[citation needed] The Amsterdam District Court found S. guilty of two attempted murders with terrorist intent and threatening three police officers, and sentenced him to 26 years and 8 months imprisonment.

[citation needed] The attacker is said to have only expressed remorse during his appeals case, but judges were unconvinced by his sincerity and "saw it as a way to reduce his sentence".