Utrecht shooting suspect faces rape trial

Prosecutors focus on terror as motive

UTRECHT, Netherlands — Investigators probing the deadly tram shooting in the Dutch city of Utrecht sharpened their focus Tuesday on a possible extremist motive, as judicial authorities revealed that the main suspect was released from jail this month and faces a rape trial in July.

The nature of Monday’s attack and a note found in a suspected getaway car suggest a possible terror motive, prosecutors said in a statement, but they added that other possible reasons also are being investigated.

“Based on the letter, we think he had a terroristic motive,” police spokesman Joost Lanshage told the Associated Press. He declined to elaborate.

Speaking in parliament, antiIslam lawmaker Geert Wilders said the note expressed support for the suspect’s “Muslim brothers.”

Prosecutors also said that investigations so far have not established any relationship at all between the main suspect, Gokmen Tanis, and the shooting victims.

Three people died: a 19-yearold woman from the neighbouring town of Vianen, and two men, ages 28 and 49, from Utrecht.

Three others were seriously wounded and four more suffered minor injuries, according to prosecutors.

Tanis, 37, of Turkish descent, was being held on suspicion of “manslaughter with terrorist intent.”

He was arrested Monday evening after an hours-long manhunt that nearly paralyzed the Netherlands’ fourth-largest city and sent shockwaves through the nation. Police recovered a weapon when they arrested him.

In an unusual step, judicial authorities released details of Tanis’ criminal past, and said he was released from jail on March 1 and faces trial in July on a rape charge. A court had approved his release after he pledged to co-operate with authorities.

In the past, he was acquitted of manslaughter but convicted of illegal possession of a weapon and theft.