Rotterdam police have arrested the man they want to question in connection with three fatal shootings in the IJsselmonde district of the city over the past 12 days.

The man, who is 24 and has no fixed address, was arrested shortly after 11 pm on the balcony of an apartment on the Emelissedijk. Police also found a gun which, according to the Telegraaf, the man had been trying to throw away.

The police said the shooter’s motive remains unclear and are due to hold a news conference on Friday morning.

The third victim, an 81-year-old man who was shot on Thursday morning, died of his injuries later in the day, taking the death toll to three. A 63-year-old man was shot dead on December 21 and a week later a 58-year-old man.

All the victims were apparently random, with no criminal connections, and police had urged people living in the area to be extremely cautious while outside.

Shocked locals told the Telegraaf two women lived in the apartment and they had not seen the suspect before.

“We don’t know him but I am glad he has been arrested,” one neighbour said. “We’ve been through hell in the past few days. I did not dare to go out. I have six children but it could have happened to me too.”

On Thursday evening, the police had issued a new photograph of the suspect and said that a reward of €30,000 had been offered for information leading to his arrest.

A man arrested earlier in connection with the first two shootings has been released without charge.