Latest news with #RomanD
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukrainian vet behind Dutch knife spree wanted life sentence
A Ukrainian national who faces multiple attempted murder charges after a stabbing spree in Amsterdam has been identified as a military deserter who reportedly dreamed of spending the rest of his life in a Western European prison, according to a Dutch media investigation. The suspect, who is accused of injuring five people near Dam Square in March, was identified as 30-year-old Roman D. The Dutch public prosecutor suggested earlier this month that the attack could have had a terrorist motive. Public broadcaster NOS revealed the Ukrainian national's background on Tuesday following an investigation by its current affairs program, Nieuwsuur. According to the report, Roman D. served in a Ukrainian artillery unit before the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022. Acquaintances said he became increasingly withdrawn after suffering a concussion in 2023 and spoke of wanting to be jailed for life in a Western European country. 'He often said that he wanted to kill someone in Norway so that he could go to a prison there and be cared for for the rest of his life,' a former commander told NOS. The remarks were reportedly dismissed as jokes at the time. When I first heard what Roman had done in Amsterdam, I thought: 'an idiot's dream has come true.' Roman reportedly left Ukraine using a travel waiver issued for a visit to his mother in the Czech Republic. She told NOS, however, that he never arrived – instead, he apparently traveled directly to the Netherlands. He remained in contact with former fellow soldiers, who described him as being interested in a wide range of ideologies. '[He] wrote about Allah and something about supporting Palestine. Surprisingly enough, he was also very active in supporting the LGBT community,' one source told the broadcaster. NOS also found that Roman's online presence suggested an association with neo-Nazism, though friends claimed his interest wasn't in earnest. Officials in Eastern European countries, including Poland and the Czech Republic, have expressed concerns over the potential influx of demobilized Ukrainian soldiers once Kiev lifts martial law and allows fighting-age men to leave the country. Veterans 'can face a number of different problems: Adaptation issues, psychosis, depression, addictions,' Polish military psychiatrist Radoslaw Tworus warned in February. 'The spectrum of these disorders is very wide.'
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Russia Today
Ukrainian vet behind Dutch stabbings sought life sentence
A Ukrainian national who faces multiple attempted murder charges after a stabbing spree in Amsterdam is a military deserter who reportedly dreamed of spending the rest of his life in a European prison, according to a Dutch media investigation. The suspect, who is accused of injuring five people near Dam Square in March, was identified as 30-year-old Roman D. The Dutch public prosecutor suggested earlier this month that the attack could have had a terrorist motive. NOS public broadcaster detailed Roman's background on Tuesday following an investigation by its current affairs program, Nieuwsuur. According to the report, Roman D. served in a Ukrainian artillery unit before the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022. Acquaintances said he became increasingly withdrawn after suffering a concussion in 2023 and spoke of wanting to be jailed for life in a Western European country. 'He often said that he wanted to kill someone in Norway so that he could go to a prison there and be cared for for the rest of his life,' a former commander told NOS. The remarks were reportedly dismissed as jokes at the time. When I first heard what Roman had done in Amsterdam, I thought: 'an idiot's dream has come true.' Roman reportedly left Ukraine using a travel waiver issued for a visit to his mother in the Czech Republic. She told NOS, however, that he never arrived – instead, he apparently traveled directly to the Netherlands. He remained in contact with former fellow soldiers, who described him as being interested in a wide range of ideologies. '[He] wrote about Allah and something about supporting Palestine. Surprisingly enough, he was also very active in supporting the LGBT community,' one source told the broadcaster. NOS also found that Roman's online presence suggested an association with neo-Nazism, though friends claimed his interest wasn't in earnest. Officials in Eastern European countries, including Poland and the Czech Republic, have expressed concerns over the potential influx of demobilized Ukrainian soldiers once Kiev lifts martial law and allows fighting-age men to leave the country. Veterans 'can face a number of different problems: Adaptation issues, psychosis, depression, addictions,' Polish military psychiatrist Radoslaw Tworus warned in February. 'The spectrum of these disorders is very wide.'
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Yahoo
Amsterdam knife attacker was Ukrainian from Donetsk, say police
The man suspected of stabbing five people in the centre of Amsterdam is a 30-year-old Ukrainian national from the eastern Donetsk region largely controlled by Russia, Dutch police say. Officers said they were still unclear about the motive for the attack, near the busy Dam Square on Thursday afternoon. The suspect, who reportedly used multiple knives, was named as Roman D by Dutch media, which had earlier said he was from Eastern Europe. He had false identity papers on him with multiple names when he was arrested, which made it difficult for police to establish who he was. It is unclear whether he is from the Russian-occupied part of Donetsk. Femke Halsema, the mayor of Amsterdam, said: 'The police investigation is in full swing and has full priority at the moment. We hope to get more clarity soon about the background of this horrible stabbing'. The Ukrainian, who police said had checked into an Amsterdam hotel on Wednesday, will be brought before a judge on April 1 to decide on his further detention. Investigations are continuing. He is under strict guard at a prison hospital after suffering injuries to his leg when he was tackled by bystanders, including an unnamed British tourist. He was not questioned immediately after the attack because of his injuries. Footage of the Briton, who has asked not to be named, chasing the suspect was widely shared online. He pinned the suspect down just off Dam Square, kneeling on top of him as he waited for police to arrive. On Friday, Ms Halsema thanked the man for his actions and awarded him the city's heldenspeld – which means hero's badge – for bravery at her official residence. 'He is a very modest British man,' she told the Amsterdam news channel AT5. 'He has no desire to become famous. He is now mainly concerned with the victims, he feels responsible for them.' The victims were a 26-year-old man from Poland, a 73-year-old Belgian woman, a 19-year-old woman from Amsterdam, and two American nationals: a 67-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man. The Polish man had been released from hospital by Friday, while the other victims remained in hospital but in a stable condition, police said. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
29-03-2025
- Telegraph
Amsterdam knife attacker was Ukrainian from Donetsk, say police
The man suspected of stabbing five people in the centre of Amsterdam is a 30-year-old Ukrainian national from the eastern Donetsk region largely controlled by Russia, Dutch police say. Officers said they were still unclear about the motive for the attack, near the busy Dam Square on Thursday afternoon. The suspect, who reportedly used multiple knives, was named as Roman D by Dutch media, which had earlier said he was from Eastern Europe. He had false identity papers on him with multiple names when he was arrested, which made it difficult for police to establish who he was. It is unclear whether he is from the Russian-occupied part of Donetsk. Femke Halsema, the mayor of Amsterdam, said: 'The police investigation is in full swing and has full priority at the moment. We hope to get more clarity soon about the background of this horrible stabbing'. The Ukrainian, who police said had checked into an Amsterdam hotel on Wednesday, will be brought before a judge on April 1 to decide on his further detention. Investigations are continuing. He is under strict guard at a prison hospital after suffering injuries to his leg when he was tackled by bystanders, including an unnamed British tourist. He was not questioned immediately after the attack because of his injuries. Footage of the Briton, who has asked not to be named, chasing the suspect was widely shared online. He pinned the suspect down just off Dam Square, kneeling on top of him as he waited for police to arrive. On Friday, Ms Halsema thanked the man for his actions and awarded him the city's heldenspeld – which means hero's badge – for bravery at her official residence. 'He is a very modest British man,' she told the Amsterdam news channel AT5. 'He has no desire to become famous. He is now mainly concerned with the victims, he feels responsible for them.' The victims were a 26-year-old man from Poland, a 73-year-old Belgian woman, a 19-year-old woman from Amsterdam, and two American nationals: a 67-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man. The Polish man had been released from hospital by Friday, while the other victims remained in hospital but in a stable condition, police said.
