Dutch police have nabbed a Turkish-born suspect in Netherlands after a shooting on a tram in the central Dutch city of Utrecht killed three people and landed five further in hospital.
Authorities in the city had raised the threat level to its highest following the shooting, which reduced after the hours-long manhunt drew a conclusion.
Local police officials had published a photo of the suspect, identifying him as 37-year old Gokman Tanis, Turkey national.
After the shooting, police flooded the streets and the city was put in lockdown. Schools were told to shut their doors and paramilitary police increased security at airports and other vital infrastructure. Security was also stepped up at mosques, wrote Aljazeera.
The shooter’s motive was unclear, but police said they could not disregard the idea of a possible “terrorist attack”.
Meanwhile, the Turkish news agency Anadolu said the suspect’s relatives believe he shot at someone close to the family due to “family issues”.
An eye witness elaborating the scene told officials he saw an injured women running out from the tram. She appeared to have been shot in the chest and had blood in her hands and cloths flowing.
“I brought her into my car and helped her. When the police arrived, she was unconscious,” NOS cited the witness as saying.
Three rescue helicopters had been sent to the scene – which had since been cordoned off – to “monitor” the situation.
The incident comes three days after the killing of 50 people in mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, which rose concerns in the city of Utrecht – depicting a somewhat similar tragic.
“An act of terror is an attack on our open and tolerant society,” the prime minister said. “If this is a terror attack, then there is only one answer: our rule and democracy are stronger than fanaticism and violence. We will not accept intolerance, said Prime Minister Mark Rutte, as Aljazeera quoted.
Political parties have announced a suspension on country’s provincial election campaign that are due to take place on Wednesday.
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