Several people were injured in a shooting in the central Dutch city of Utrecht. The firing happened on a tram. “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 has also deployed several trauma helicopters to provide help.
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
“The police is investigating the shooting at the #24oktoberplein in Utrecht this morning. A possible terrorist motif is part of the investigation,” the Police said.
(More details awaited)
On Monday 18 March 2019, between 10:30 and 11:00 hrs, a shooting took place at 24 Oktoberplein in Utrecht, The Netherlands. There are multiple wounded. The shooter, most probably one man, is on the run.
The shooting took place in or around a public transportation vehicle at the crossing of Beneluxlaan and 24 Oktoberplein. The emergency services are on the scene, and the police is searching for the shooter with all possible means. At this moment the police consider several scenarios, including the possibility of a terrorist attack.
The Dutch government has raised the terrorism threat level to the highest possible in the province of Utrecht. Alert level raised as the suspected shooter was still at large. Dutch counter-terrorism unit surrounds the building where gunman may be located: Reports
Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he was 'deeply concerned' and that crisis talks were to be held in response to the incident. Dutch radio said security had been increased at the seat of the government in The Hague: Reuters
The incident comes just days after Christchurch mosque shooting in which 50 people were killed. The shooting happened during Friday prayer at Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand. The suspected perpetrator was arrested and charged with murder.
Several shots were fired in a tram and several people were injured. Helicopters are at the scene and no arrests have been made: Reuters quoted police spokesman Joost Lanshage as saying.
The police investigation is underway in Utrecht this morning.