(UTRECHT, Netherlands) — At least three people are dead and nine others are wounded after a suspect opened fire on a tram Monday morning, local authorities said.
Utrecht Mayor Jan van Zanen confirmed the fatalities in a video posted to Twitter in Dutch.
The shooting occurred near the 24 Oktoberplein station in Utrecht, located about 30 miles southeast of Amsterdam in central Netherlands.
At least one suspect is on the run, Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg, the national coordinator for counterterrorism and security, said at a press conference. He added that it was unclear whether other perpetrators were involved in the shooting.
Utrecht police asked for the public’s help in finding a 37-year-old Turkish-born man believed to be connected to the shooting.
The public is also being urged to stay indoors and away from the area.
Earlier on Monday, Utrecht police said on Twitter they were investigating a shooting, adding that a “possible terrorist motif is part of the investigation.”
The police is investigating the shooting at the #24oktoberplein in Utrecht this morning. An possible terrorist motif is part of the investigation.
— Politie Utrecht (@PolitieUtrecht) March 18, 2019
Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.