3 Killed, 9 Injured After Gunman Opens Fire on Tram in Utrecht; Police Suspect ‘Possible Terrorist Motive’

Several people injured in shooting in Dutch city of Utrecht, Netherlands

New Delhi: Three people were killed and nine were injured after gunman opened fire inside a tram in the Dutch city of Utrecht on Monday. Police said that the attacker reportedly a native of Turkey fled the scene by car. “A shooting occurred on the #24oktoberplein in #Utrecht. The incident has been reported at 10.45 hour. Multiple people have been injured. The surrounding area has been cordoned off and we are investigating the matter,” Utrecht Police said.

“The police is investigating the shooting at the #24oktoberplein in Utrecht this morning. An possible terrorist motif is part of the investigation,” the police added.

A shooting occurred on the #24oktoberplein in #Utrecht. The incident has been reported at 10.45 hour. Multiple people have been injured. The surrounding area has been cordoned off and we are investigating the matter.

— Politie Utrecht (@PolitieUtrecht) March 18, 2019

Several trauma helicopters have been deployed at the scene and rescue operation is currently underway. The area in the west of the city has been cordoned off by authorities. Police have asked people to stay away from the area and schools were closed.

Following the incident, Prime Minister Mark Rutte cancelled his weekly coalition talks.

“I was standing at the traffic lights on 24 Oktoberplein and I saw a woman lying down, I think she would have been between 20 and 35 years old.  At that point I hear ‘bang, bang, bang’, three times. Four men tried to drag her away and then I heard ‘bang, bang, bang’ again, and they let go of her,” one of the witnesses told a local daily.

The incident comes days after 49 people were killed and 20 seriously injured in mass shootings at two mosques in the Christchurch city of New Zealand.