Utrecht Tram shooting: Dutch police arrest suspect after three killed

DN Bureau

Dutch authorities have arrested a 37-year old man suspected of opening fire on a tram in the Dutch city of Utrecht, killing three people and injuring five others.

The suspect of the shooting
The suspect of the shooting


Utrecht: Dutch authorities have arrested a 37-year old man suspected of opening fire on a tram in the Dutch city of Utrecht, killing three people and injuring five others.

According to reports, Turkish man Gokmen Tanis, who has had previous run-ins with law enforcement, was arrested on Monday night, police said.

Dutch authorities are considering "a possible terrorist motive" for the incident, which happened in 24 October Square at 10:45 a.m. (5:45 a.m ET) Monday. Utrecht Mayor Jan van Zanen said the motive behind the attack is "still unclear."

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A second suspect has also been taken into custody, van Zanen said, adding that it's not clear what his involvement was in the shooting.

At a press meet, Rutger Jeuken from the public prosecution service said authorities are considering that the attack had terrorist motives, and maybe others.

"The first indication of what has happened and the statements that have been made and the traces that have been found, we certainly consider a terrorist motive; however we don't exclude other motives," Jeuken said.

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During the manhunt, an image believed to be of Tanis, who was born in Turkey, was taken from security camera footage on board the tram and circulated by Dutch police. It was time-stamped at 10:41, roughly four minutes before the incident took place.(UNI)










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