1 dead in Dutch ‘terror attack’

THEHAGUE: A gunman opened fire on a tram in the Dutch city of Utrecht on Monday, killing at least one person and wounding several in what officials said was a possible terrorist incident.

A body covered in a sheet was reportedly seen on the tracks as armed police and emergency services swarmed around the scene in one of the largest cities in the Netherlands. Police said the attacker, identified a Gokmen Tanis, a 37-year-old Turkish man, was still on the run .

“A shooting occurred on the 24 Oktoberplein in Utrecht... Multiple people have been injured. The surrounding area has been cordoned off and we are investigating the matter,” Utrecht police said on Twitter. “It is a shooting incident in a tram. Several trauma helicopters have been deployed to provide help.” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte cancelled a meeting with his ruling coalition and was being briefed on the situation, officials said.

Police later said that “a possible terrorist motive is part of the investigation”. The head of the Dutch national counter-terrorism service, Pieter-jaap Aalbersberg, said on Twitter that he was having “crisis consultations” over the incident. “NCTV is monitoring the situation in #Utrecht. In close contact with local authorities. We cannot rule out terrorist motive. Crisis team is activated,” he said. “Offender still fugitive,” Aalbersberg said, adding that the terror threat level had been raised to the maximum of five.