A suspected gunman wanted over the Utrecht tram shooting has been arrested, a Dutch police chief says.

Police said the Turkish-born suspect, identified as 37-year-old Gökmen Tanis, had been taken into custody after an hours-long manhunt.

He is suspected of shooting dead three people and injuring five on a tram in Dutch city of Utrecht on Monday.

The gunman’s motive remains unclear, however a prosecutor said it could be for “family reasons”.

Turkey’s official Andadolu news agency also cited relatives of the gunman, who said he had fired at a relative on the tram and later shot at others who tried to help her.

Dutch justice minister Fred Grapperhaus said the suspect “was known” to authorities and had a criminal record.

“Yes, the suspect was known within the justice department. He had a criminal record. That is indeed what we know. I can give no more details”, he said.

Local networks said the suspect was court two weeks ago on charges of raping a woman in 2017.

The networks also said he had been charged several times over the past few years, including attempted manslaughter to pretty crime in and around Utrecht.

Speaking at the same news conference, prime minister Mark Rutte said three of the wounded are critically injured.

“Three people are dead, three people are fighting for their lives,” he said.

“There was an attack today in the Netherlands – if it had terror motives, that is being investigated. But it was very serious. The world shares our grief.”

Dutch counter-terrorism authorities have reduced the threat level for Utrecht to level 4, a decision prompted by the suspect’s arrest.

Authorities initially raised the terrorism threat in Utrecht to its highest level as schools were told to shut their doors.

Paramilitary police also increased security at airports, other vital infrastructure and mosques.

The suspect’s father said his son should be punished if he is to blame.

Mehmet Tanis, who lives in Turkey’s central Kayseri province, told Demiroren news agency that he had not spoken to his son in 11 years.

“If he did it, he should pay the penalty,” he said.

The shooting occurred in Kanaleneiland, a quiet residential district on the outskirts of Utrecht.

The city was put into lockdown after the deadly shooting shortly after rush house, which authorities said was an apparent terrorist attack.

Police conducted raids in several locations and helicopters hovered over the usually quiet town before the suspect’s arrest.

Utrecht Mayor Jan van Zanen said there could be more than one attacker.

“We cannot exclude, even stronger, we assume a terror motive. Likely there is one attacker, but there could be more,” Mr van Zanen said.

Police spokesman Bernhard Jens said one person may have fled the car and did not rule out the possibility that more than one assailant was involved.

The prime minister earlier said that “a terror motive is not excluded” and that the attack was met throughout the country with “a mix of disbelief and disgust.”

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