Unhinged or Terrorist?
"If it is a terror attack, then we have only one answer: Our nation, democracy, must be stronger than fanaticism and violence.""We assume a terror motive" Mayor Jan van Zanen stated while the search for the killer was ongoing. "Today is a black day for our city."
"[Authorities are trying to determine whether the attack had] terror motives."
Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Utrecht, Netherlands
Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands, and in the aftermath of the shooting it was placed on lockdown, the threat level raised to the maximum with tightened security at airports and government buildings throughout the country while police issued a photograph of a bearded man on a tram wearing a blue-hooded sweater.
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| Gokmen Tanis was known to police before he was arrested on Monday in connection with the shooting AFP |
Three people were killed, another five wounded in mid-morning at a residential neighbourhood. The suspect born in Turkey was taken into custody following the manhunt that ended as the day did. Gokmen Tanis, 37, was no stranger to authorities, with a long criminal record. Police arrested another two men, suspecting involvement.
Because a Turk was involved, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan let it be known that he has instructed Turkish intelligence to get involved to 'look into the matter'. This is the same friend of the West who snarled at Australia and New Zealand after a few Turks were among the 50 that died in the attack at the Christchurch mosques, that if they planned to come to Turkey for Anzac commemoration they'd better behave or they'd return home in wooden coffins.
The 350,000 residents of Utrecht were cautioned to remain indoors while the eight-hour search for the killer (called a 'suspect' of course) was ongoing. And of course what would an event such as this call for other than for police to be dispatched to guard the city's mosques. Armed police with dogs were all deployed in the search for the killer. When he was apprehended, the threat level was reduced from its high of 5 to 4.
This is a man who had charges laid against him in the past, ranging from attempted manslaughter to petty crimes executed around the city. People who knew him characterized him as a psychopath. He was in court a matter of several weeks earlier on charges of a 2017 rape. When the shooting began shouts of "shooter" rang out as people scattered in panic from the tram, the area quickly shut off by police and three trauma helicopters flew overhead while anti-terror forces rushed the streets.
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| The threat level was temporarily raised to its highest point in the province of Utrecht EPA |
"I can't believe this happened in my city. [It] seems like nowhere is safe now."Residents stood beside their houses, watching the helicopters overhead and the drones that flew over the area. Schools and businesses closed.
"Those poor people attacked in the tram on a quiet Monday."
Greet Oldenlam, 65, witness
"I saw someone lying behind the tram and thought she had been ridden over People came out of cars running toward her."
"Then a shooter came running with a pistol up, and [I] heard people shouting 'shooter!'. I ran."
Daan Molenaar, tram witness
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| Dutch PM Mark Rutte and Justice Minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus (2nd R) laid flowers close to the scene of the attack AFP |
Labels: Attack, Killing, Netherlands, Turk
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, March 20, 2019
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