Manhunt for suspected Utrecht shooter continues, terror suspected

Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-18 21:34:26|Editor: Shi Yinglun
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THE HAGUE, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The manhunt for the suspected shooter of a possible terror shooting in a tram in Utrecht is still going on, while citizens are advised to stay in the city, according to the authorities of the Dutch city.

"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 of Utrecht said shortly before noon on Twitter, adding that "a possible terrorist motive is part of the investigation."

Jan van Zanen, mayor of Utrecht, the capital and largest city of the Utrecht province, said in a statement on the municipality government's website that "Shortly before noon a shooting took place on a tram in Utrecht around 24 Octobersquare. A horrible and radical incident in which victims have fallen."

"With my chief of police and public prosecutor I can confirm that the police and the public prosecutor are currently looking for the person or persons responsible for this incident," van Zanen added in the statement, "We do not exclude anything, not even a terrorist attack."

The authorities so far have not revealed exact casualties, with the Utrecht municipality confirming on its website that there are victims but didn't elaborate, only adding that "We hope to provide more information soon."

The municipality also advised citizens to stay in Utrecht until more is known, saying "The police are looking for the perpetrator. We do not exclude other incidents."

The Dutch National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) increased the threat level in the province of Utrecht from 4 to 5, the highest level, until at least 6 p.m. local time. The rest of the Netherlands remains on the current threat level 4.

A lot is unclear, said Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg, head of the NCTV, at a press conference in The Hague. "One perpetrator is on the run. It is our priority to catch this perpetrator. This is a complicated operation. I do not exclude there are more perpetrators, but I cannot say that with certainty."

After the press conference Aalbersberg continued the crisis talks with, among others, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus of Security and Justice. Dutch political parties halted their campaign activities for the provincial elections of March 20.

The Dutch Special Interventions Service DSI, specialized in terror threat situations, is present at the scene of the incident and seems ready to enter a building near the 24 Oktoberplein square, in the Trumanlaan street.

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