This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/18/utrecht-shooting-tram-dutch-netherlands

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Utrecht tram shooting: three dead as police hunt gunman Utrecht tram shooting: three dead as police hunt gunman
(32 minutes later)
Armed police are searching multiple buildings in the Dutch city of Utrecht after a shooting on a tram left at least three people dead and five injured, some seriously. Armed police are searching multiple buildings in the Dutch city of Utrecht after a shooting on a tram left at least three people dead and five injured.
The incident happened at about 10.45am on Monday at a tram stop on the city’s central 24 Oktoberplein junction, a police spokesman, Bernhard Jens, told reporters at the scene. The incident happened at about 10.45am local time at a tram stop on the city’s central 24 Oktoberplein junction.
“A terrorist motive cannot be excluded,” Jens said, but later added that police were “far from 100% sure” about the reason for the attack. “It could still be a domestic dispute,” he said. “We will wait for the investigation before we say more.” A police spokesman, Bernhard Jens, said a “terrorist motive” could not be excluded, but added later that police were “far from 100% sure” about the reason for the attack. “It could still be a domestic dispute,” he said. “We will wait for the investigation before we say more.”
The mayor of Utrecht, Jan van Zanen, said in a video statement at least three people had died in the attack and nine more were wounded, three of them seriously. Police later revised the total down. The mayor of Utrecht, Jan van Zanen, said in a video statement that at least three people died in the attack and nine more were wounded, three of them seriously. Police later revised the number injured.
Van Zanen said authorities were searching for “definitely one” suspect, who had been identified, but that there may be more, and asked all residents to stay at home. That advice was later lifted. Van Zanen said authorities were searching for “definitely one” suspect, who had been identified, but that there may be more, and he asked all residents to stay at home. That advice was later lifted.
Utrecht police issued a CCTV picture of the suspect, named as Turkish-born Gökmen Tanis, 37, and warned people not to approach him but to alert the authorities if they saw him. They also appealed for witness photographs.Utrecht police issued a CCTV picture of the suspect, named as Turkish-born Gökmen Tanis, 37, and warned people not to approach him but to alert the authorities if they saw him. They also appealed for witness photographs.
The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, said all efforts were focused on catching the “suspect or suspects … Our country today has been jolted by an attack in Utrecht,” he said. “Police and prosecutors are looking into what exactly happened.”The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, said all efforts were focused on catching the “suspect or suspects … Our country today has been jolted by an attack in Utrecht,” he said. “Police and prosecutors are looking into what exactly happened.”
A local broadcaster, RTV Utrecht, quoted a witness named as Jimmy de Koster as saying several shots had been fired. De Koster said he was on his way home from work when he saw a woman lying on the ground next to a tram, shouting: “I have done nothing.” A local broadcaster, RTV Utrecht, quoted a witness named Jimmy de Koster as saying several shots had been fired. De Koster said he had been on his way home from work when he saw a woman lying on the ground next to a tram shouting: “I have done nothing.”
Another witness, identified only as Niels, who was in the tram, told the Algemeen Dagblad newspaper that the gunman seemed to target one person. “I heard like a bang-bang-bang in the carriage behind me, and suddenly people were running out, for their lives,” the witness said. Another witness, identified only as Niels, who was on the tram, told the Algemeen Dagblad newspaper that the gunman seemed to target one person. “I heard like a bang-bang-bang in the carriage behind me, and suddenly people were running out for their lives,” the witness said.
“I had the impression he was firing at one person in particular, because I saw a women crawl out. Other people tried to help her, and when they did that, he went round behind her and began firing at them.” “I had the impression he was firing at one person in particular, because I saw a women crawl out. Other people tried to help her, and when they did that he went round behind her and began firing at them.”
Several Dutch media outlets reported that the suspect had appeared in court in Utrecht on 4 March charged with rape. RTV Utrecht said Tanis was well known to the police for a string of further offences, including threatening to murder a woman and firing a weapon at an apartment block close to the Oktoberplein.Several Dutch media outlets reported that the suspect had appeared in court in Utrecht on 4 March charged with rape. RTV Utrecht said Tanis was well known to the police for a string of further offences, including threatening to murder a woman and firing a weapon at an apartment block close to the Oktoberplein.
The national terrorism coordinator told a press conference that a “complex operation” was under way to apprehend what police believed was a single suspect. “Every effort was now being focused” on apprehending the man, Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg said. The national terrorism coordinator, Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg, told a press conference that a “complex operation” was under way to apprehend what police believed was a single suspect. He said every effort was now being focused on apprehending the man.
Aalbersberg raised the alert level in Utrecht province to its maximum after the incident. Local schools and colleges were ordered to keep their doors closed until further notice and security was increased in the nearby cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague as well as at Schiphol airport. Aalbersberg raised the alert level in Utrecht province to its maximum. Local schools and colleges were ordered to keep their doors closed until further notice and security was increased in the nearby cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague as well as at Schiphol airport. Unlike France, Belgium and Germany, the Netherlands has not had a major terror attack in the past few years.
Unlike France, Belgium and Germany, the Netherlands has not suffered a major terror attack in the past few years. The wounded were taken to Utrecht’s main teaching hospital, where a major incident was declared. Dutch media reported that at least three people received emergency treatment at the scene.
“Several shots were fired in a tram and several people were injured,” a Utrecht police spokesman, Joost Lanshage, said earlier. “Helicopters are at the scene but no arrests have been made.” There were initial reports of shootings in other areas of the city but these were subsequently discounted by police. Police said a red Renault Clio was stolen near the Oktoberplein square where the attack took place shortly beforehand, and was later found abandoned further to the north.
The wounded were taken to Utrecht’s main teaching hospital, where a major incident was declared. Dutch media reported that at least three of the victims had received emergency treatment at the scene.
There were initial reports of shootings in other areas of the city but these were subsequently discounted by police. Police said a red Renault Clio had been stolen near the Oktoberplein square where the attack took place shortly beforehand, and was later found abandoned further to the north.
NetherlandsNetherlands
EuropeEurope
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content