THE HAGUE: A shooting in downtown Amsterdam on Friday night left one person dead and two injured, Dutch police said.

"One person has died and two wounded ? a man and a young woman ? were taken to hospital after a shooting on Grote Wittenburgerstraat, in the city centre," Amsterdam police spokesman Leo Dortland told AFP.

"This is clearly not a terror attack, but a criminal incident," he said, adding that police were still looking for the attacker or attackers.

Witnesses heard several gunshots and saw a hooded man run away, Dutch media reported.

"The research unit has launched a broad investigation," Dortland said, adding that the streets in the area had been cordoned off.

The police were interviewing witnesses and taking fingerprints at the crime scene.