Note points to ‘Utrecht terror motive’

A noTE found in the getaway car used by the Utrecht shooting suspect ‘seriously’ suggests a terrorism motive, Dutch prosecutors have said.

Gokmen Tanis, 37, continued to be questioned yesterday after a gunman killed three by ‘wildly’ opening fire and spraying bullets on a tram in the Dutch city on Monday. Three others were seriously wounded and four more suffered minor injuries.

Police refused to reveal the contents of the letter but said ‘a terrorist motive is being seriously taken into account,’ after the note was found in the alleged gunman’s abandoned car. Police stressed prosecutors have not ruled out other possible motives, however. They were yet to establish a link yesterday between the Turkish-born suspect, who has a criminal record, and any of the dead, a woman, 19, and two men aged 28 and 49. Dutch authorities were last night facing questions as to why a convicted criminal with such a lengthy history of violence was allowed to roam free.

in 2017, Tanis had been in custody for an alleged rape but was released pending trial.

He was arrested again on January 4 this year after breaking bail conditions but was released on March 1. yesterday, his alleged rape victim said he ‘is not a terrorist, but a psychopath’. Tanis is being held on suspicion of ‘manslaughter with terrorist intent’. Two other people have been arrested.