Netherlands terror as gunman slays 3

POLICE HUNTING TRAM SHOOTER

POLICE have named the suspect in a shooting attack on a tram in the central Dutch city of Utrecht which has left three people dead and five others injured.

Officers identified Turkish-born Gokman Tanis, 37, in connection with the incident. The public have been urged not to approach him.

Utrecht mayor Jan van Zanen confirmed the number of people killed and injured in the incident, saying the authorities were likely to “assume a terror motive”.

Authorities raised the terror alert for the area to the maximum level while Dutch military police went on extra alert at airports and at key buildings in the country as the manhunt took place.

Police, including heavily-armed officers, flooded the area after the shooting yesterday morning on a tram at a busy traffic intersection.

Officers said a Red Renault Clio had been hijacked shortly before the shooting and was later found further south in the city.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said: “Our nation was hit by an attack in Utrecht. It is clear there were shots on tram passengers in Utrecht, that there are wounded.” He said that “a terror motive is not excluded”.

Mr Rutte said that throughout the nation “there is a mix of disbelief and disgust”. He added: “If it is a terror attack then we have only one answer : our nation, democracy must be stronger that fanaticism and violence.”