Dutch Police: Can't Rule Out Terrorist Motive in Utrecht Shooting

A shooting in a Dutch tram Monday may have had a terrorist motive, a police spokesman said.

Police spokesman Joost Lanshage said police were considering that possibility. Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he was "deeply concerned" about the incident.

The country's counterterror coordinator said in a tweet that a crisis team was meeting to discuss the situation. The alert level was raised to its highest level for the area around Utrecht.

Police say "multiple" people have been injured as a result of the shooting in a residential neighborhood.

Trauma helicopters were sent to the scene and police appealed to the public to stay away to allow first responders to do their work.

A shooting on a tram in the central Dutch city of Utrecht on Monday left "multiple" people wounded, police said, adding that they are considering the possibility of a "terrorist motive." A manhunt was launched for the shooter.

Police spokesman Bernhard Jens said that no one had been detained yet.

Jens said that "one explanation is that the person fled by car." He did not rule out the possibility that more than one person was involved.

"We want to try to catch the person responsible as soon as possible," Jens said.