A peaceful afternoon in Nieuwegein turned tragic when an 11-year-old girl was stabbed to death in broad daylight. The suspect? A 29-year-old Dutch-Moroccan man with no apparent connection to her. Shockingly, neighbors had repeatedly warned authorities about his erratic behavior, yet nothing was done.
The attack happened around 3 p.m. on Anemoonstraat, a quiet residential street in the Utrecht province. The young victim, the daughter of an Eritrean family, had been dropped off for a playdate. When plans unexpectedly fell through, she was left outside alone—completely unaware of the danger lurking nearby.
Authorities haven’t identified a motive, and there’s no known link between the girl and her attacker. What’s clear, however, is the horror witnessed by an 11-year-old boy who saw the stabbing unfold. He bolted to a nearby home, desperately seeking help. Emergency services rushed in, and a manhunt for the knifeman began.
De Telegraaf reports that the suspect tried to escape by cutting through backyards, but thanks to sharp-eyed locals, police caught up with him fast. A resident even captured footage of the arrest—black hair, striped black-and-white shirt, dark pants. He didn’t get far.
The young girl had just turned 11 the day before. Her classmates at De Tweeklank primary school are struggling to process the nightmare. Two teenage girls who knew her told reporters, “It could have been any one of us.”
But here’s the part that’s infuriating: neighbors had been raising the alarm about this man for months. One resident said multiple complaints had been filed—one in January, another just the day before the attack.
“The police were called several times, but nothing happened. Just days ago, he was chasing someone’s brother. It’s terrifying.”
Another local, Bianca, summed up the community’s devastation:
“You tell your child to go outside and enjoy the nice weather instead of sitting behind a screen, and then this happens. It’s unthinkable.”
A police spokesperson admitted there were prior reports but wouldn’t confirm details. Now, they claim they’ll review the complaints—too little, too late.
Nieuwegein’s mayor, Marijke van Beukering, called the attack a “nightmare” and a “dark day for our town.” She extended condolences to the grieving family and promised support for the traumatized community.
“Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones, and we will ensure support is available for those who need it.”
Victim support services have been set up for residents shaken by the violence.
Initially, reports misidentified the attacker as a Syrian national, sparking an immediate reaction online. Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV), posted:
“So, it was a Syrian who killed an 11-year-old girl. It’s time for an asylum stop and to return Syrians. The Netherlands will be completely destroyed here.”
Wilders later walked back his statement after learning the suspect was Moroccan—but the outrage remains. The brutal crime, compounded by ignored warnings, has reignited fierce debates about public safety, immigration, and the government’s failure to act before tragedy strikes.
One thing’s certain: a little girl should have never lost her life like this.
