Terrorist attack in Utrecht (NL)

[DavidB.]

Shooting on the light rail in a multicultural neighborhood in Utrecht (NL), multiple casualties. Perpetrator fled the scene. No news about him yet. Multiple emergency helicopters have arrived at the scene. PM Rutte to meet crisis team.

Railway staff are on strike today and an election will take place on Wednesday, so could be a strategically planned terrorist attack. Gun violence isn't unusual in this area, but targeted killings usually don't take place on light rail trains. Still, let's wait for the details. But this does seem serious.

[DavidB.]

1 person has deceased. Multiple perpetrators, possibly shootings in multiple compartments of the train. Police say they're thinking of a terrorist motive.

[DavidB.]

Press conference in 20 minutes at 1:15.

Terror threat level in Utrecht province at 5 now, the highest level possible (scale goes from 1 to 5) and for the first time. It used to be 4 for years in the entire country.

All mosques in Utrecht have been evacuated.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Just want to say up front as more news will come out soom: please try to keep this thread dignified as beffiting a tragic occassion.

[DavidB.]

Just confirmed by the National Coordinator Counterterrorism: multiple locations, possibly multiple suspects. No news about the number of casualties yet. No news about motive.

Increased police presence in Rotterdam, The Hague, Amsterdam and at Schiphol Airport.

Unofficial: it's hard to see how this isn't a terror attack now. Lots of rumors going on but I think it's best to ignore them for now until we know more and not feed into the speculations. It's all a bit unreal and we therefore need to keep our calm.

All parties (except for FVD) have suspended their campaigns for the Wednesday election, and the television debate at Erasmus University Rotterdam that was scheduled for this evening has been cancelled.

[DavidB.]

Press conference at 2:30 by Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister of Justice and Security Ferdinand Grapperhaus.

[DavidB.]

The suspect who fled is a 37-year old man from Turkey named Gökmen Tanis, public broadcaster NOS reports.

[DavidB.]

The suspect is supposedly featured on the internet in a video from 2011 that went viral and that many people still recall, in which he calls a female journalist a whore and a "dirty democrat." He also was suspected of rape in a court case that took place two weeks ago, and was detained. Doesn't sound like a devout Muslim, but you never know.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

in city that vote for d666 and where's 1/3 population from muslim countries, not surprised at all

(◔_◔)

[DavidB.]

Rutte: multiple casualties and possibly multiple deaths. Disbelief and horror. He says it is a "possible" act of terror but clearly anticipates that it is: says an act of terror is an attack on our open society and civilization, but our liberal democracy is stronger than fanaticism and violence and we will never give in to it. Rutte did use the word "attack" without ifs and buts.

Grapperhaus reiterates that the threat level in Utrecht is 5, in the rest of the country 4. People should be alert but also calm. People in Utrecht province are advised to stay indoors as police are looking for the suspect.

[DavidB.]

"At least" 3 deaths, 9 wounded according to the mayor of Utrecht, but unconfirmed by police.

[PSOL]

Horrible, just absolutely horrible. The degenerates of the world are calling for destruction and disorder, using propaganda of evil to further said evil. My heart aches and my head migraines at the ever-continuing evil that seems to happen every day.

On what must be done, it is short-sighted to say closing the borders will do much for the descendants of those previous immigrants, the ones most represented in being involved in these sort of matters. The Dutch government needs to make it a perogative to increase social cohesion and integration among its poor immigrant population. They have to do so in a way that removes this sort of counterculture and cultural need to be connected to Wahhabi organizations. Currently, at least from my understanding, second-gen foreign kids use religious conservatism as a way to connect with one another and stay distinct from what is perceived to be the hostile and unaccepting Dutch society at large. That has to change, fast. Wether the solution is by promoting more inclusive and nonhostile sects, such as the Gülenists, or through the promotion of a secular counterpart. Whatever the case, those figures need to be promoted in a way to wean people off this, like Richard Dawkins ripped a widely publicized hole against evangelicals in the States. To be successful, that must follow promoting economic equality and connectivity to the wider Dutch society, or such a formula is doomed to fail.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Violence begets violence. Tarrant knew this, which makes the atrocity in NZ all the more heinous. The attack in Christchurch was designed to spark the attack in Ultrecht. It’s a vicious cycle that speaks to the darker aspects of humanity, and it’s only going to get worse.

[DavidB.]

Multiple witnesses said that the suspects (plural) said "Allahu akbar" and deliberately avoided injuring a Moroccan passenger after this passenger shouted to the attackers that he was a Moroccan, which is why the authorities have been inclined to treat it as a terror attack. Unconfirmed by police still, but not just a rumor: witnesses are claiming this.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Multiple witnesses said that the suspects (plural) said "Allahu akbar" and deliberately seemed to avoid injuring a Moroccan passenger, which is why the authorities have been inclined to treat it as a terror attack. Unconfirmed by police still, but not just a rumor: witnesses are claiming this.

Stay safe bud!

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Violence begets violence. Tarrant knew this, which makes the atrocity in NZ all the more heinous. The attack in Christchurch was designed to spark the attack in Ultrecht. It’s a vicious cycle that speaks to the darker aspects of humanity, and it’s only going to get worse.

[DavidB.]

Number of injured victims is not 9 but 5, NOS now fortunately says. Death toll remains three.

Stay safe bud!

Thanks man. My relatives and I are safe. But it's a bit unreal and different now that it happens here in the Netherlands, even though I've known for years that it would happen someday. If this is what it seems to be, that is.

[Omega21]

Number of injured victims is not 9 but 5, NOS now fortunately says. Death toll remains three.

Stay safe bud!

Thanks man. My relatives and I are safe. But it's a bit unreal and different now that it happens here in the Netherlands, even though I've known for years that it would happen someday. If this is what it seems to be, that is.

Glad to hear you're safe man.

"Fortunately", so far the attack seems less destructive than a lot of those that occurred across Europe in recent years.

Hope the bastards are caught before they can cause any more damage.

[DavidB.]

Thanks, Omega21!

The advice to the inhabitants of Utrecht to stay home has been lifted. The suspect's brother has been taken into custody for questioning by police at his vocational school in the Utrecht suburb of Nieuwegein.

Contradictory to previous statements, police now say there was only one location. Still unclear whether there were multiple shooters or not, what the motive was, who the victims are, etc. I feel like more than six hours after the attack the public should have received more information by now. There should be another press conference between 6 and 7 PM. But I'm wondering whether we will receive any more meaningful information at all today.

The suspect has the following criminal history: breaking into a van in 2012, attempted manslaughter with a firearm in 2013, shoplifting in 2014, spitting at and threatening a police officer in 2014, driving under the influence of alcohol in 2014, breaking a window and afterwards demolishing his police cell in 2015, rape in 2017. Nice lad, good addition to our country for sure. You also have to wonder why this guy was walking around this morning in the first place.

[PSOL]

If you or anyone you know live in Utrecht, I hope you and your relatives are safe from harm. Crazy times we live in.

[Tender Branson]

There‘s a press conference soon and we‘ll know more then.

[Tender Branson]

The mayor says 3 dead and 5 injured (of which 3 critically injured).

The Turk perpetrator has not been arrested so far and is still on the run.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Violence begets violence. Tarrant knew this, which makes the atrocity in NZ all the more heinous. The attack in Christchurch was designed to spark the attack in Ultrecht. It’s a vicious cycle that speaks to the darker aspects of humanity, and it’s only going to get worse.

[DavidB.]

Police have caught Tanis.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Police have caught Tanis.

Good.