A tram passes a rose at the site of a shooting incident in a tram in Utrecht, Netherlands, March 19, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
Investigators probing the deadly tram shooting in the Dutch city of Utrecht sharpened their focus Tuesday on a possible extremist motive, as judicial authorities revealed that the main suspect was released from jail this month and faces a rape trial in July.
The nature of the Monday’s attack and a note found in a suspected getaway car suggest a possible terror motive, prosecutors said in a statement, but they add that other possible reasons also are being investigated.
“Based on the letter, we think he had a terroristic motive,” police spokesman Joost Lanshage told The Associated Press. He declined to elaborate. Speaking in parliament, anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders said the note expressed support for the suspect’s “Muslim brothers.”
Prosecutors also said that investigations so far have not established any relationship at all between the main suspect, Gokmen Tanis, and the shooting victims.
Three people died: a 19-year-old woman from the neighboring town of Vianen, and two men aged 28 and 49 from Utrecht. Three others were seriously wounded and four more suffered minor injuries, according to prosecutors. (AP)
Dutch police stand guard outside a house where the suspect of a shooting incident in a tram was arrested in Utrecht, Netherlands, March 18, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
A tram passes a Dutch flag flying half-staff at the site of a shooting incident in a tram in Utrecht, Netherlands, March 19, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
A tram passes flowers placed at the site of a shooting incident on a tram, in Utrecht, Netherlands, March 19, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
Flowers are seen at the site of a shooting incident in a tram in Utrecht, Netherlands, Tuesday, March 19, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, right, and Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus, center, observe a moment of silence after putting flowers at a makeshift memorial for victims of a shooting incident in a tram in Utrecht, Netherlands, March 19, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
A body is covered with a white sheet after a shooting in a tram in Utrecht, Netherlands, Monday, March 18, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
Dutch counter terrorism police prepare to enter a house after a shooting incident in Utrecht, Netherlands, Monday, March 18, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
A forensics expert looks for clues inside a tram after a shooting incident in Utrecht, Netherlands, Monday, March 18, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
A woman talks on her mobile phone as Dutch counter terrorism police prepare to enter a house after a shooting incident in Utrecht, Netherlands, Monday, March 18, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
Dutch counter terrorism police prepare to enter a house after a shooting incident in Utrecht, Netherlands, March 18, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
A resident peers out from a window as Dutch counter terrorism police prepare to enter a house after a shooting incident in Utrecht, Netherlands, Monday, March 18, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
Dutch counter terrorism police prepare to enter a house after a shooting incident in Utrecht, Netherlands, Monday, March 18, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
Special Police forces inspect a tram at the 24 Oktoberplace in Utrecht, on March 18, 2019 where a shooting took place. – A gunman opened fire on a tram in the Dutch city of Utrecht on March 18, 2019, killing at least one person and wounding several in what officials said was a possible terrorist incident. (Photo: Ricardo Smit/AFP/Getty Images)
Dutch counter terrorism police prepare to enter a house after a shooting incident in Utrecht, Netherlands, Monday, March 18, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
Emergency services attend the scene of a shooting in Utrecht, Netherlands, Monday March 18, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
Dutch counter terrorism police prepare to enter a house after a shooting incident in Utrecht, Netherlands, Monday, March 18, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
A body lying on the ground is covered near a tram at the 24 Oktoberplace in Utrecht, on March 18, 2019 where a shooting took place. (Photo: Robin Van Lonkhuijsen/AFP/Getty Images)
Dutch counter terrorism police prepare to enter a house after a shooting incident in Utrecht, Netherlands, Monday, March 18, 2019. P(Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
Police forces stand near a tram at the 24 Oktoberplace in Utrecht, on March 18, 2019 where a shooting took place. (Photo credit should read Robin Van Lonkhuijsen/AFP/Getty Images)
Police forces and emergency services stand at the 24 Oktoberplace in Utrecht, on March 18, 2019 where a shooting took place. (Photo: Robin Van Lonkhuijsen/AFP/Getty Images)
Emergency services attend the scene of a shooting in Utrecht, Netherlands, Monday March 18, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
In this image taken from video, a body lays next to a tram as emergency services attend the scene of a shooting in Utrecht, Netherlands, Monday March 18, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
Ambulances are seen next to a tram after a shooting in Utrecht, Netherlands, Monday, March 18, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
Rescue workers install a screen on the spot where a human shape was seen under a white blanket following a shooting in Utrecht, Netherlands, Monday, March 18, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
In this image taken from the Twitter page of Lilian Bruigom, emergency services attend the scene of a shooting in Utrecht, Netherlands, Monday March 18, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
Rescue workers install a screen on the spot where a body was covered with a white blanket following a shooting in Utrecht, Netherlands, Monday, March 18, 2019. (Photo: Peter Dejong/AP)
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