near the Dutch capital's Dam Square on Thursday.

Video of the incident shows the Briton, wearing jeans and a black hoodie, kneeling on his back and twisting his arm until police arrived. Amsterdam's Mayor Femke Halsema said she was impressed by his decisive action, telling local broadcasters he showed "exceptional" instinct.

Halsema personally thanked the British man at her official residence, where he was given an award for bravery, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported. Explaining that he wished to stay anonymous, she said the man had no desire to become "famous" and that his main concern had been for the victims of the attack. "He is a very modest British man," she told local broadcaster AT5. "This man made a decision in a split second, which is truly exceptional and for which there should be a lot of appreciation." (BBC)