Thursday, 5th December 2024

Utrecht Tram Shooting: Dutch police arrest suspect

Tuesday, 19th March 2019

Dutch police arrested a Turkish-born suspect believed to be the gunman who killed at least three people and wounded several others on a tram in the city of Utrecht, an attack authorities were treating as a possible act of terrorism.

Gokmen Tanis, a 37-year-old Turkish man, was found several hours after the attack in a building about two miles (3km) from the scene. Authorities said the attacker's motive was unclear.

The incident sparked a city-wide manhunt and the closure of schools.

On Monday, at about 10:45 local time (09:45 GMT), police were called to reports of a shooting on board one of the city's trams at the 24 Oktoberplein junction. One witness told local media that "a man started shooting wildly". Several of the injured are in a critical condition.

The gunman then fled the scene, leading to the manhunt which lasted for much of Monday.

Schools were closed and security was increased at airports and mosques while counter-terrorism police worked to locate the suspect.

A photograph of him was posted on social media by police, who warned people against approaching him. A number of raids were reportedly carried out and counter-terrorism officers were pictured patrolling the streets near to where the attack happened.

Police surrounded a building not far from the scene of the attack and arrested Tanis on Monday evening.

Police said the shooting appeared to be a terrorist incident but, at a press conference on Monday evening, a prosecutor said it could have been motivated by "family reasons".