New Delhi: Dutch police on Monday arrested the suspect in a shooting on a tram in the city of Utrecht in which three people were killed and several others were injured.  "We have just been informed that the suspect has been arrested," Utrecht police chief Rob van Bree told a news conference. Police had earlier said they were searching for Turkish-born suspect Gokmen Tanis, 37, and issued a picture of him.

The gunman killed three people and injured nine when he opened fire aboard a tram in a square to the west of the Dutch city of Utrecht on Monday in what authorities described as a possible terror attack, officials said.

Jan van Zanen, the Mayor of Utrecht, said in a television broadcast that a terrorist motive to the attack could not be ruled out after police named the suspect, reports Efe news.

"The police asks you to look out for the 37-year-old Gökmen Tanis (born in Turkey) associated with the incident this morning at the 24 Oktoberplein in Utrecht," police said, adding: "Do not approach him."

Police shared an image of the suspect apparently taken aboard a tram minutes before the attack was reported and urged members of the public in Utrecht to remain indoors and to report anything suspicious to a helpline.

The shooting took place at 10.45 a.m. in 24 Oktoberplein, a busy junction underneath a highway bridge.

Police said they had found a red Renault Clio car they had been looking for in connection to the attack.

The Dutch counter-terrorism and security unit NCTV was involved in the investigation.

"NCTV is monitoring the situation in Utrecht. In close contact with local authorities. We cannot rule out a terrorist motive. Crisis team is activated," said Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg, the NCTV's national coordinator.