Several people were injured after a shooting in a residential area in the central Dutch city of Utrecht, police said. 

The shooting began at 10.45am local time (9.45am GMT) when a gunman opened fire on a tram on 24 Oktoberplain. 

The gunman then fled the scene, according to news outlet AD.

Three air ambulances were scrambled to the scene on Monday. 

Local media reports anti-terror police are at the scene.

A square at a tram station outside the city centre has been cordoned off. 

Utrecht Police has appealed to the public to stay away to allow first responders to do their work.

The force tweeted: "Shooting incident report # 24oktoberplein in Utrecht was at 10.45 a.m. This is a shooting incident in a tram. 

Several trauma heli have been deployed to provide assistance.

Shots were fired near Oudenrijn Hospital, according to RTV Utrecht.

London Evening Standard

BDST: 1715 HRS, MAR 18, 2019
SI