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18th Mar 2019

Utrecht shooting: Dutch police release picture of 37-year-old suspect

Wayne Farry

The shooting occurred on a tram in the city of Utrecht on Monday morning

Dutch police have confirmed that they are a 37-year-old Turkish-born man named Gökman Tanis in connection with the fatal shooting which took place on a tram in the city of Utrecht on Monday.

One person has been confirmed dead in the shooting with occurred at 10.45am on the 24 Oktoberplein, with several others being treated in hospital for injuries.

At lunchtime on Monday, local police confirmed that they were searching for Tanis in connection with the crime, while urging members of the public to avoid making contact with him.

Tanis is believed to have fled the scene after the attack, with reports suggesting that the police were looking for a red car that may have been used.

https://twitter.com/PolitieUtrecht/status/1107636046685188096

After the incident, the terrorism threat level in Utrecht was raised to its maximum, five, after police had stated that there “may have been a terrorist motive” to the attack.

An eyewitness told Dutch media outlet NTV what she had seen on the tram.

“I was in the back of the tram. He shot around, but seemed to be aiming at people sitting on the benches – everyone ducked away,” she said. “The conductor did not open the doors immediately. Two boys next to me kicked in a window, so I fled outside. More people did that. “