A Rotterdam court has ruled that the man who carried out a fatal stabbing attack with terrorist intent near the Erasmus Bridge last year will not be sent to prison, concluding that his actions cannot be attributed to him because he was suffering from a severe psychotic disorder.
The Hague District Court on Friday ordered compulsory psychiatric treatment for Ayoub M., 23, after finding him guilty of murder and attempted murder with terrorist intent, but fully criminally incompetent. Prosecutors had sought a 20-year prison sentence in addition to compulsory treatment.
The attack took place on Sept. 19, 2024, after the killer travelled from his home in Amersfoort to Rotterdam and bought two chef’s knives. Early that evening, he stabbed 32-year-old German national Philipp, who was skating near the foot of the Erasmus Bridge. He then chased other people, making stabbing motions and screaming “Allahu Akbar,” before injuring a second man, 33-year-old Stefan from Switzerland, at Remastered, a digital art museum nearby. He was eventually overpowered by a group of bystanders whose heroic intervention prevented further casualties.
The court found that Ayoub M. had acted with terrorist intent, with judges pointing to his consumption of jihadist material, including books on armed jihad, hours of audio recordings, and videos from Islamic State showing beheadings.
Despite this, the court ruled that he could not be held criminally responsible. “The horrific acts cannot be blamed on him; he was completely psychotic,” the judges said in their verdict, as cited by NOS. They found that his behavior was dictated by a mental disorder and that no punishment should be imposed as retribution for the suffering he caused.
The court heard how Ayoub M. had been diagnosed with schizophrenia since the age of 18 and has suffered recurring psychoses. During these episodes, he experienced hallucinations, heard voices, and became intensely preoccupied with religion, according to Rechtspraak. In 2022, during a previous psychotic episode, he attempted to slit his mother’s throat while shouting “Allahu Akbar.” A court in Gelderland also found him fully insane in that case, and he was placed under supervision with conditions.
Experts at the Pieter Baan Center examined the suspect for 10 weeks and concluded that he had never been completely free of psychosis and that even maximum medication had been insufficient. Because he claimed that he could not remember the attack, and it could not be scientifically established to what extent his disorder influenced his actions, the experts advised holding him partially responsible. The court rejected that recommendation, ruling that he bore no criminal responsibility at all.
During police questioning, the man said that non-believers should be killed. Jihadist material was found on his laptop and phone, including videos about suicide attacks and life in the Islamic State caliphate.
Relatives of the German victim addressed the court during the trial. Philipp’s mother said her family had “experienced the worst thing imaginable” and argued that M. should never be allowed to return to society. “If we have to suffer for life, the suspect should also pay for his actions, without pardon,” she said.
Attorney Sébas Diekstra, representing the injured Swiss victim and the German family, called the verdict disappointing. “They believe the court falls short in addressing the extent to which the defendant can be held personally responsible for the situation he has found himself in,” he said.
In addition to the compulsory psychiatric treatment, the terrorist was also ordered to pay €17,500 to each of the German victim’s father, mother, and partner. The injured victim was also awarded €18,500 in damages. It is unclear how these damages will be paid.
In February, the four men who intervened during the attack were honoured for their actions. Rotterdam’s mayor awarded medals to Melvin van Es, Yurie Jansen, Reniël Litecia, and Sebastiaan Herrera van der Nood for distracting, subduing, and attempting to save the victims, actions that the court acknowledged helped prevent further bloodshed.
“They showed courage and solidarity in times of danger and chaos. I would love to express my deep gratitude to all those people here today. Yet your dedication stands out; you played a decisive role in the events of that evening,” Rotterdam Mayor Carola Schouten at the time.
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