A shocking three people have been reported dead after multiple shootings erupted in the Dutch city of Utrecht, the Netherlands’ national Counter Terrorism and Policing Coordinator said.
The shootings occurred on Monday around 10:45 am local time, prompting a nation-wide hunt for a gunman, identified as 37-year-old Turkish citizen Gokmen Tanis. Tanis is believed to have acted alone and is still at large at the time of writing.
After the report of the first shooting, the city of Utrecht went into lockdown with hunting teams from the Dutch police carrying out the most intensive manhunt in the history of the country. Trains and trams were halted in the area while citizens were advised to stay indoors.
The surrounding area of the city has been sealed off to allow police to examine every corner. The public prosecutor’s office released a statement releasing more information about the suspect, including his age and ethnicity and claimed he was known to police for past criminal activities.
The Prime Minister of Netherlands, Mark Rutte, expressed his shock on the incident and said, We wish the injured a speedy recovery and our thoughts are with the victims and their relatives.
The cause of the shooting is still unknown, and it is yet to be seen how the nation as a whole, and the city of Utrecht in particular, will be impacted in the wake of this horrific event.