Dutch mayor confirms three killed in Utrecht shooting

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Utrecht mayor Jan van Zanen on Monday confirmed that three people were killed, and nine others injured after an attack in the city of Utrecht, Netherlands.

“Nine persons were injured, including three serious,” Mayor van Zanen said in a video message on Twitter.

“We assume that [the attack] had a terrorist motive. Presumably, there is one perpetrator, but it cannot be ruled out, and it is possible there are several perpetrators.”

Dutch police identified Gökmen Tanis, a Turkish-born 37-year-old, in connection with the attack on the Utrecht tram which occurred around 10:45 a.m.

The Dutch newspaper AD reported that the suspect was on trial on March 4 for allegedly raping a victim several times, threatening to burn her house, and hitting her in the face in July 2017.

Moreover, Tanis had allegedly fired a weapon at the end of 2013 in the direction of an apartment building in Kanaleneiland. He was accused of attempted manslaughter.

According to a witness on the tram, Tanis was aiming at people that were trying to help a woman, AD reported.

Dutch police have issued a search for Tanis and warned people not to approach the suspect.

The mayor called on residents in Utrecht to remain home so police and emergency services can conduct their work and warned of another possible attack as the suspect remains at large.

The Dutch government has raised its threat level to a maximum, tightening security at schools, religious centers, and the airport.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany