One person has been killed and four others taken to hospital after a man armed with a knife carried out a string of random attacks in the Amsterdam district of De Pijp.

The stabbings took place shortly after 11pm and, according to the police statement, ‘it quickly became clear they had been carried out by the same person.’

Police have arrested a 29-year-old man from Amstelveen as ‘the only suspect’ and say there is no direct indication that he had a terrorist motive for carrying out the attacks.

Nevertheless, all options remain open, police said.

All the stabbings took place on, or close to, the Ferdinand Bolstraat and public transport services have been diverted.

No information has been released about the condition of the four people in hospital.

More to follow