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Utrecht tram shooting

Coordinates: 52°04′51″N 5°05′29″E / 52.080732°N 5.091353°E / 52.080732; 5.091353
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2019 Utrecht shooting
File:2019 Utrecht shooting.jpg
The aftermath of the attack with the tram in view
Location of the shooting
Location24 Oktoberplein, Utrecht, Netherlands
Coordinates52°04′51″N 5°05′29″E / 52.080732°N 5.091353°E / 52.080732; 5.091353
Date18 March 2019
10:45 (CET)
TargetCivilians
Attack type
Mass shooting
Deaths3
Injured5

On 18 March 2019, three people were killed and five others were injured after a shooting on a tram in Utrecht, Netherlands. Local police described the incident as "appearing to be" a terrorist attack.[1][2][3][4]

Attack

At approximately 10:45 CET, a shooting took place on a fast tram near the 24 Oktoberplein junction in Utrecht.[5] The perpetrator fled in a car, leading to a police manhunt, which lasted for much of the day.[4] The police have arrested a 37-year-old man, who was born in Turkey.[6][7][8] In addition, two further arrests were made in connection to the shooting[9]. Police were also looking for a red Renault Clio in connection with the attack, which has been found and confiscated by Dutch police.[10][11]

One of the women shot during the shooting may have been the target because of "family reasons", and when other passengers tried to come to her aid, they were also targeted.[12] Later, law enforcement announced there was "no indication" supporting this theory.[13]

Victims

Three people were confirmed dead and five others were injured.[14] The wounded were taken to the University Medical Center Utrecht.[15]

Aftermath

Tram services in the city were cancelled as per the transport authority.[16][17] In addition, election debates and political campaigning for the provincial elections on 20 March 2019 were suspended by effectively all politicians for at least the remainder of 18 March.[18] After the attack, the threat level for the province was raised to Level 5: this is the highest level of threat and had never been used before this attack.[19][20] Mosques in the city were evacuated, and those elsewhere in the country were given increased security, likely due to the recent mosque shootings in New Zealand.[15] The police presence was increased at NS railway stations, including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht, and at the country's airports.[20][21] After the suspect was caught, the threat level for Utrecht province was reduced back to Level 4.[22]

Gun killings in the Netherlands are rare.[22] The last major mass shooting was the Alphen aan den Rijn shopping mall shooting of 2011.[citation needed]

The day after the shooting all national flags on government buildings , throughout the Netherlands and at diplomatic posts abroad were hung at half mast on request of Prime Minister Mark Rutte.[23] A black banner, a symbol of mourning, has been added to the Royal Standard which is raised above all Royal palaces every day when the King is in the Netherlands.

References

  1. ^ "Gewonden door schoten in tram Utrecht, terroristisch motief niet uitgesloten" (in Dutch). 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  2. ^ "NCTV: vermoedelijk terroristische aanslag, schutter nog voortvluchtig" (in Dutch). 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  3. ^ Utrecht, Gemeente (18 March 2019). "Burgemeester Jan van Zanen reageert op het schietincident eerder vandaagpic.twitter.com/PzI6t2tPtX". Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  4. ^ a b Davies, Gareth (18 March 2019). "Utrecht shooting: At least one dead after 'potential terror attack' on tram". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  5. ^ Henley, Jon (18 March 2019). "Utrecht shooting: several injured on tram as man opens fire". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Politie geeft foto vrij van verdachte" (in Dutch). 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  7. ^ "Politie Utrecht zoekt 37-jarige verdachte Gökmen Tanis" (in Dutch). 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  8. ^ ", Leading Britain's Conversation, 18 March 2019
  9. ^ "Vermoedelijke dader en twee andere verdachten aanslag Utrecht opgepakt". NU. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  10. ^ "Drie doden bij aanslag in Utrecht, inwoners moeten binnenblijven". NOS: Nederlandse Omroep Stichting, Hilversum. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  11. ^ "'Gestolen' rode Renault Clio aangetroffen in Utrecht". Telegraaf. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  12. ^ Jon Henley and Jennifer Rankin (18 March 2019). "Utrecht tram shooting suspect arrested after three killed". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  13. ^ "Three dead as Dutch police hunt tram gunman". 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  14. ^ a b Schuetze, Christopher F.; Barthelemy, Claire; Schreuer, Milan (18 March 2019). "Gunman Attacks Tram Passengers in Utrecht, Dutch Police Say". The New York Times.
  15. ^ "Gunman opens fire inside Dutch tram". 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  16. ^ U-OV (18 March 2019). "Ten gevolge van een schietpartij ligt het tramverkeer in Utrecht momenteel geheel stil. We weten nog niet hoe lang dit gaat duren. Van/naar Nieuwegein verwijzen we u nu door naar de buslijnen 74 en 77". @UOV_info (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  17. ^ "Verkiezingscampagne opgeschort na gebeurtenissen Utrecht; geen debat". AD. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  18. ^ "Dutch PM "very concerned" by possible terrorist attack in Utrecht". NL Times. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  19. ^ a b "Gunman opens fire in Utrecht tram". BBC News. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  20. ^ "Extra toezicht bij stations en moskeeën in Rotterdam na mogelijke aanslag Utrecht". rijnmond.nl (in Dutch). 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  21. ^ a b Meijer, Bart (18 March 2019). "Dutch police arrest Turkish man suspected of killing three in tram shooting". Reuters. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  22. ^ "Rutte: vlaggen op overheidsgebouwen vandaag halfstok". nos.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 March 2019.
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