Death toll from Utrecht tram shooting rises to four

Authorities are investigating whether Gokmen has confessed to judge during a closed hearing of his motives

AMSTERDAM: A 74-year-old man who was seriously wounded during a shooting on a tram in the Netherlands this month died of his injuries, taking the number of fatalities to four, Dutch prosecutors said on Thursday.

In a statement, prosecutors said they will adjust the charges against the alleged shooter, 37-year-old Turkish-born Gokmen Tanis, to four counts of murder or manslaughter, carried out with terrorist intent.

Authorities are investigating whether Gokmen, who is said to have confessed to a judge during a closed hearing, had other personal motives. He has also been undergoing a psychological evaluation.



In a rare act of gun violence in the Netherlands, Gokmen allegedly opened fire in a tram in the central Dutch city of Utrecht on March 18.

Those killed included a 19-year-old woman, a 28 year-old-man, and the 49-year-old father of two young children. One victim remains in hospital in critical condition.

A Dutch court will rule by the end of next week on extending Gokmen’s custody.