Three people have been killed and five more injured after a shooting on a tram in the Dutch city of Utrecht.
At about 10.45 local time (09:45 GMT) a man opened fire on board one of the city’s trams near the city’s central 24 Oktoberplein junction.
Authorities say the incident appears to be a terrorist attack and armed police have launched a search to find the suspect, a 37-year-old Turkish man named as Gokmen Tanis.
As a press conference following the incident, Dutch anti-terrorism co-ordinator Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg said:
“We cannot exclude a terrorist motive… A lot is still unclear at this point and local authorities are working hard to establish all the facts”
Nearby schools and university buildings have been closed while anti-terror officers continue the manhunt. Armed police have been dispatched to airports and mosques amid hieightened security fears. The public have been warned not to approach the suspect and have asked anyone with information to immediately contact the authorities.
Earlier warnings for people to remain indoors have since been lifted.
Further information is expected to be released by authorities at 18:00 local time (17:00 GMT) in a press conference held by the police, public prosecutor and Mayor of Utrecht.
