Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte has said the Netherlands will ‘not yield to intolerance’ after a shooting on a tram in Utrecht left at least three people dead.

Another five were injured in the incident on the 24 Oktoberplein, near the city’s main railway station, at around 10.45am on Monday, according to the city’s mayor, Jan van Zanen.

Police have issued a photograph of the suspect, 37-year-old Gökmen Tanis, apparently taken in the tram shortly before the shooting. Members of the public have been advised not to approach him but to call the investigation team on 0800 6070.

The police asks you to look out for the 37 year old Gökman Tanis (born in Turkey) associated with the incident this morning at the #24oktoberplein in #Utrecht. Do not approach him but call 0800-6070. pic.twitter.com/U1IWEDtUYu

— Politie Utrecht (@PolitieUtrecht) March 18, 2019

The national anti-terrorism agency NCTV raised the terror alert level to 5, or ‘critical’ – the highest available – in Utrecht province until 6pm, but kept it at level 4 in the rest of the country. Level 5 has never previously been used.

Burgemeester Jan van Zanen reageert op het schietincident eerder vandaag pic.twitter.com/PzI6t2tPtX

— Gemeente Utrecht (@GemeenteUtrecht) March 18, 2019

Van Zanen said in a video address on Twitter: ‘We are assuming that there was a terrorist motive’. He added that although one suspect had been named, ‘we cannot exclude there being others.

‘Attack on civilisation’

Speaking at a press conference in the afternoon, Rutte said: ‘Our country has been shocked today by an attack in Utrecht. There are injuries and possibly fatalities. A terrorist motive has not been ruled out.

‘Violence has left innocent people badly hurt. Our thoughts are with them and their nearest and dearest, whose lives have been abruptly turned upside down today.

‘An act of terror is an attack on our civilisation, on our open and tolerant society.

‘If this is confirmed as a terrorist act, there is only one suitable answer: our society, our democracy, is stronger than fanaticism and violence. We will not yield to intolerance. Never.’

Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg, head of the NCTV, said the heightened terror alert had been put in place primarily so the emergency services could do their work, though he did not rule out a terrorist motive for the attack.

‘There is no reason to raise the threat level in the rest of the country,’ said Aalbersberg.

Renault Clio

Eyewitnesses said they had to kick in a window to escape the tram after the driver was unable to open the doors when the shooting began. One man, Jimmy de Koster, told RTV Utrecht that he saw a young woman lying on the floor. ‘I heard three shots and four people ran towards her and tried to drag her away. Then I heard more shots and the people let her go. It was chaotic.’

Police carried out searches and raids on a number of locations around Utrecht in the wake of the shooting.  Anti-terror police were also seen searching a property in Trumanlaan, near the scene of the shooting.

Police said the suspect may have fled in a red Renault Clio. A car matching the description was seized in a carjacking on Amerikalaan shortly before the shooting and found abandoned on Tichelaarslaan. Members of the public were told to stay away from the location because of ‘danger of explosives’.

Vlak voor het schietincident aan het #24oktoberplein in #Utrecht is aan de Amerikalaan bij een carjacking een rode Renault Clio buitgemaakt. De betreffende auto is later aangetroffen aan de Tichelaarslaan. 1/2

— Politie Utrecht (@PolitieUtrecht) March 18, 2019

Officials urged people to stay indoors until the crisis was over. Utrecht University and schools are advising visitors and students not to go outside, while local mosques have closed on the advice of the police. The advice to stay indoors was lifted shortly after 4pm.

Extra security

Security has been stepped up at Schiphol airport and other transport hubs. Children at nearby schools and at the university have been told to stay indoors.

Mosques in the city have closed their doors and been given extra police protection. A spokesman for the Ulu mosque, the largest in Utrecht, said the decision had been taken ‘in consultation with the police’. Security was also stepped up at mosques in other Dutch cities including Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

Most political parties have suspended campaigning for the provincial elections, which are being held on Wednesday. Sybrand Buma, leader of coalition party CDA, said: ‘My thoughts are with the victims and their families.’

One exception was Thierry Baudet, leader of the nationalist right-wing Forum voor Democratie, who said it was ‘essential’ to continue talking about the country’s future.