Many injured in 'terror shooting' in Dutch tram

Utrecht (Netherlands), March 18 (IANS) A gunman on Monday opened fire inside a tram in the Dutch city of Utrecht injuring several people that police said can be a possible terror attack.

The gunman reportedly fled the scene by car, the police added. They said they were investigating a "possible terrorist motive", the BBC reported.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he was "deeply concerned" and cancelled his weekly coalition talks.

The shooting took place around the 24 Oktoberplein junction at about 10.45 a.m. Three helicopters have been despatched.

"A man started shooting wildly," one eyewitness told Dutch news site NU.nl.

Another witness told Dutch public broadcaster NOS he saw an injured woman with blood on her hands and clothes. "I brought her into my car and helped her," he said. "When the police arrived, she was unconscious."

It is unknown how many were injured or how seriously they were hurt.

The area in the west of the city has been cordoned off by authorities. Police have asked people to stay away from the area and schools were closed.

Utrecht's transport authority said some tram services later resumed running in the city although warned travellers to "take into account additional travel time".