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Agence France-Presse

A man set himself and his car on fire on Amsterdam’s iconic Dam Square on Thursday, police said, in what they suspected was a possible attempt to take his own life.
Images posted by local media and online show a small red car pulling up to the National Monument located near the square’s southeastern corner.
A small explosion followed soon afterwards, with flames shooting out of the vehicle.
“Camera images show that the fire on the Dam was sparked after an explosion in a car,” Amsterdam police confirmed on social media.
“At that moment there were a lot of people close to the vehicle, but as far as we know, no bystanders were injured,” police added.

Passers-by can be seen scattering, with several police vehicles quickly surrounding the burning car.
The fire was believed to have been deliberately started by the car’s driver “who was injured in the process”, police said.
The driver stumbled from the car with his clothes on fire, quickly extinguished by police.
The injured man was taken to hospital and was under police arrest.
He was later identified as a 50-year-old Dutch national from the North Netherlands province. Police did not release his name.
“Detectives are keeping all scenarios open, but have strong suspicions that the man wanted to take his own life. He is suspected of arson,” police said.

An Agence France-Presse reporter on the scene saw police and explosives officers investigating the burnt-out vehicle, while the square in the heart of the city remained largely cordoned off.
A witness told the local AT5 television station she heard a “small pop, not even a real explosion” on the square and saw people running away.
“Then suddenly there was a loud bang and lots of black smoke.”
“After that I saw the man. Suddenly he was on fire. It was unreal,” she said.
Images on social media show a man with burning clothes close to a small red car with flames billowing from its windows. Police are seen extinguishing the flames on the man before taking him into custody.
Police sealed off the square while explosives experts investigated the vehicle. It was later removed from the square.
The latest incident came days after a Ukrainian man last week stabbed five people at random in the streets around the square, located in the heart of the Dutch capital.
Dutch prosecutors said on Tuesday the man “acted with terrorist” intent.
Additional reporting by Reuters
If you have suicidal thoughts or know someone who is experiencing them, help is available. In Hong Kong, you can dial 18111 for the government-run Mental Health Support Hotline. You can also call +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For a list of other nations’ helplines, see this page.


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A man was innjured after his car was set ablaze in a famous Amsterdam square on Thursday. Photo: charlize_li/instagram/via Reuters

Police tape surrounds the burned-out car out on Dam Square near the National Monument in Amsterdam on Thursday. Photo: EPA-EFE

The car is seen burning in this screengrab from a social media video. Image: instagram/@charlize_li via Reuters

The National Monument is one of the most important memorials to World War II in The Netherlands. Photo: EPA-EFE

Medical staff assist a wounded person during a stabbing attack in Amsterdam on March 27, 2025. Photo: AFP

Police cordon the area near the central Dam Square in Amsterdam after a stabbing on March 27, 2025. Photo: AFP

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Police officers from a special task force are deployed in the old town. The suspect who poured a flammable liquid over a woman in a tram and set her on fire is said to live there. Photo: dpa

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Police said they suspected it was a possible attempt by the 50-year-old Dutch national to take his own life


Police said they suspected it was a possible attempt by the 50-year-old Dutch national to take his own life.


Crime

Mental health