3 killed on Dutch train; man arrested
UTRECHT, Netherlands — A gunman killed three people and wounded five during a midmorning tram ride Monday in the Dutch city of Utrecht, raising the specter of another extremist attack only days after the murderous rampage in New Zealand.
Authorities seized a Turkish-born suspect after a manhunt that convulsed the historic city of nearly 350,000 people for most of the day.
As night set in, three victims lay in critical condition, and the motive for the bloodshed remained under investigation. Prime Minister Mark Rutte said authorities were trying to determine whether the attack had “terror motives.”
Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus said the suspect, identified as Gokmen Tanis, 37, was known to authorities and had a criminal record, but would not elaborate. Police said they also detained another man on suspicion of involvement but released no details.
The Utrecht attack took place at a busy intersection in a residential neighborhood. The gunman was alleged to have had an automatic weapon, Grapperhaus said.
“We assume a terror motive,” Mayor Jan van Zanen said as police searched for the killer, though he added that other motives could not be ruled out.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Dutch authorities put the Netherlands’ fourth-largest city on lockdown, raised the threat level in the area to the maximum of 5 and tightened security at airports and key buildings.
Local media said Tanis had been charged several times over the past years with offenses ranging from attempted manslaughter to petty crime in and around Utrecht. Two weeks ago, he was in court on charges of raping a woman in 2017, news reports said.