"A possible terrorist motive is part of the investigation", Utrecht police said on Twitter.
Police in Netherlands are investigating "terrorist motive" after three people died and several others were injured in shooting on a tram in Utrecht today. The shooting was reported at multiple locations, news agency Reuters reported. "A shooting occurred on the 24 Oktoberplein in Utrecht... Multiple people have been injured. The surrounding area has been cordoned off and we are investigating the matter," the police said on Twitter. The head of the Dutch national counter-terrorism service, Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg, said on that he was having "crisis consultations", adding: "Terrorist motive not excluded. Information not yet full," news agency AFP reported. The gunman is on the run. The police did not rule out the possibility there might more than one attackers.
"It is a shooting incident in a tram. Several trauma helicopters have been deployed to provide help", the police said.
Local media showed photographs of masked, armed police and emergency vehicles surrounding a tram that had stopped near a road bridge. Tram traffic in the area was halted, operator Qbuzz was quoted as saying by the ANP news agency.
"A possible terrorist motive is part of the investigation", Utrecht police said on Twitter.
The head of the Dutch national counter-terrorism service, Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg, said on Twitter that he was having "crisis consultations", adding: "Terrorist motive not excluded. Information not yet full."
Here are the updates on the shooting in Netherlands
Utrect Police have arrested the shooting suspect, news agency AFP reports.
Update on people injured: The number of injured people has just been adjusted downwards. It's going to be 5 injured instead of the aforementioned 9. The number of deceased is currently unchanged, Utrecht police tweeted
Police find car abandoned
Police said they believed a red Renault Clio had been carjacked around the time of the shooting and had been found abandoned later.The Utrecht municipality said it advised "everyone to stay indoors until more is known. New incidents are not excluded." The local hospital said it had set up a crisis centre.
External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Netherlands shooting
I have spoken to the Indian Ambassador in Netherlands. Please do not worry. We are keeping a close watch on the situation
Utrecht Mayor's statement
At this stage, we can confirm three deaths and nine wounded, three of them seriously
Upadate: Three dead, nine injured in Utrecht shooting, mayor says (news agency Reuters)
Mosques in Utrecht shut
Mosques in Utrecht shut for the day following the attack, Netherlands's ANP news agency said, which comes just days after 50 people were killed at mosques in New Zealand in a rampage by an alleged white supremacist, news agency AFP reports.
Dutch police hunting Turkish-born man, release picture
Dutch police released a picture of a Turkish-born man they are hunting over a shooting on a tram in Utrecht on Monday that left one dead and several injured.
Highest threat level in Utrecht
The national coordinator for security and counterterrorism has temporarily raised the threat level to 5, exclusively for the province of Utrecht until 1800 hrs today. Level five is the highest threat level: National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism
Major police operation to arrest gunman
"Shooting took place this morning at several locations in Utrecht," Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg told a news conference in The Hague. "A major police operation is under way to arrest the gunman." (news agency AFP)
(Reuters)
Shooting at "several" locations in Utrecht, shooter still at large - head of Dutch counter-terrorism agency, Reuters reports.
Airports, important buildings on high alert
"In connection with the situation in Utrecht, the Royal Military Police is on high alert at the airports and at other vital buildings in The Netherlands," the Dutch Military Police said on Twitter.
The site of the shooting in Utrecht, Netherlands
(Reuters)
Gun attacks rare in Utrecht
Utrecht, the Netherlands' fourth largest city, is known for its picturesque canals and large student population. Gun killings are rare in Utrecht, as elsewhere in the Netherlands.
Helpline number launched
The Municipality Utrecht has a telephone line arranged for public questions about the situation, police tweeted.
Police forces near a tram at the 24 Oktoberplace in Utrecht, Netherlands where the shooting took place
(AFP)
Dutch raise terrorism threat to maximum in Utrecht after shooting
The Dutch government raised the terrorism threat level to the highest possible in the province of Utrecht on Monday following a shooting on a tram.
The National Anti-Terrorism Coordinator said it had raised alert level as the suspected shooter was still at large (news agency Reuters)
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte says "deeply concerned"
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutt 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. (news agency Reuters)
ALERT: Shooter on run after Dutch tram incident, say police
The shooting comes just days after the deadly attack on two mosques in New Zealand, in which 50 people were killed.
A reporter for Dutch national broadcaster NOS said a white sheet had been placed over a body near the tram where the shooting took place, news agency Reuters said.
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, the police tweeted.
Dutch news agency ANP reported that least one person was killed in a shooting on a tram in the Dutch city of Utrecht.