News report | 24-12-2025 | 12:50

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has decided not to appeal the verdict of the The Hague court in the case against the Erasmus Stabbing. The 23-year-old man from Amersfoort fatally stabbed a man at the foot of the Erasmus Bridge in September 2024. A second victim was seriously injured in the stabbing attack. After attempting to harm more victims, he was overpowered by bystanders. The OM accused the man of committing these crimes with a terrorist intent.

The public prosecutors demanded 20 years imprisonment and TBS with compulsory treatment for committing these terrorist acts. The judge agreed with the OM on the conviction but imposed only TBS. The court states in the verdict that based on the investigation, reports, and expert statements, it can be concluded that the suspect was completely not accountable at the time of the offense. Because the man was psychotic, he did not know what he was doing at that moment. If someone is completely not accountable, legally no prison sentence can be imposed.

The OM believes that based on the file, the suspect was partially accountable. However, after thorough study of the judges verdict, the conclusion was drawn that an appeal offers no realistic prospect of a different outcome. Also, in appeal, the judgment about accountability would be central. According to the OM, the court will most likely not come to a different judgment and will still impose a prison sentence with a TBS measure.

Protecting society

When formulating the sentence demand, the OM deliberately chose to demand a long prison sentence combined with TBS. With this demand, the OM wanted to do justice to the exceptional seriousness of the facts, the irreparable suffering caused, and the great social unrest the incident has caused.

Now that the 23-year-old perpetrator of the terrible incident in Rotterdam has only been given a TBS measure, it does not mean that he will be back on the street in a few years. TBS with compulsory treatment is aimed at protecting society and intensive treatment of the convicted person. This measure can be extended as long as the danger exists that the man will reoffend and can thus remain in force for a long time.