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Probe into Canada school attack Probe into Canada school attack
(10 minutes later)
Police in Canada are investigating the attack on a Montreal college in which a gunman ran amok, killing a young woman before being shot dead himself.Police in Canada are investigating the attack on a Montreal college in which a gunman ran amok, killing a young woman before being shot dead himself.
The city's police chief ruled out racism or terrorism as the reason for the attack which was reportedly carried out by a local Canadian man. The city's police chief ruled out racism or terrorism as the motive for the attack which was reportedly carried out by a local Canadian man.
Nineteen people were also wounded in the rampage at Dawson College.Nineteen people were also wounded in the rampage at Dawson College.
A BBC correspondent says there is a deep sense of shock in Montreal and across Canada over the shooting.A BBC correspondent says there is a deep sense of shock in Montreal and across Canada over the shooting.
But it is slowly giving way to questions about the gunman's motives and how this could have happened in a country that prides itself on its tough gun control laws, the BBC's Lee Carter says.But it is slowly giving way to questions about the gunman's motives and how this could have happened in a country that prides itself on its tough gun control laws, the BBC's Lee Carter says.
Those laws were no match for the illegal automatic weapon that the gunman wielded, our correspondent adds.Those laws were no match for the illegal automatic weapon that the gunman wielded, our correspondent adds.
'My perfect little niece''My perfect little niece'
Yvan Delorme, Montreal's chief of police, said the motive was unknown but he rejected some of the early theories being reported.Yvan Delorme, Montreal's chief of police, said the motive was unknown but he rejected some of the early theories being reported.
I was in my calculus class when I heard three shots... we saw one guy on the floor bleeding Jose Rafael HerediaDawson College student 'We hid under desks' In pictures: College shootingsI was in my calculus class when I heard three shots... we saw one guy on the floor bleeding Jose Rafael HerediaDawson College student 'We hid under desks' In pictures: College shootings
"There is no racist connotation whatsoever," he said on Wednesday. "This is not related... to terrorism.""There is no racist connotation whatsoever," he said on Wednesday. "This is not related... to terrorism."
The investigation, he added, was currently limited to the dead man alone.The investigation, he added, was currently limited to the dead man alone.
The man was shot dead by police officers who arrived within minutes of the attack beginning.The man was shot dead by police officers who arrived within minutes of the attack beginning.
Clad in black and carrying three weapons, the gunman had entered the canteen of Dawson College during the lunch hour.Clad in black and carrying three weapons, the gunman had entered the canteen of Dawson College during the lunch hour.
Some students fled in terror as he opened fire, while others barricaded themselves in classrooms.Some students fled in terror as he opened fire, while others barricaded themselves in classrooms.
The dead woman was named by Canadian newspapers as Anastasia DeSouza, 18.The dead woman was named by Canadian newspapers as Anastasia DeSouza, 18.
"She was full of life, she was the perfect little niece," her uncle Real Hevy told the Montreal Gazette."She was full of life, she was the perfect little niece," her uncle Real Hevy told the Montreal Gazette.
At least six of the injured were in a critical condition in hospital as of Wednesday evening.At least six of the injured were in a critical condition in hospital as of Wednesday evening.
'Emotionless''Emotionless'
Dawson College students described how the shooting began at about 1245 local time (1645 GMT), and how a total of 20 shots were heard over a half-hour period.Dawson College students described how the shooting began at about 1245 local time (1645 GMT), and how a total of 20 shots were heard over a half-hour period.
The gunman, said to be wearing a black trench coat and military boots and with a Mohawk haircut, appeared emotionless as he fired his weapons.The gunman, said to be wearing a black trench coat and military boots and with a Mohawk haircut, appeared emotionless as he fired his weapons.
"He said nothing. He had a stone cold face... He just started opening fire," one student said."He said nothing. He had a stone cold face... He just started opening fire," one student said.
Others told of how he pursued terrified students along corridors and up stairwells.Others told of how he pursued terrified students along corridors and up stairwells.
Those who could not escape barricaded the doors to classrooms and hid themselves under their desks.Those who could not escape barricaded the doors to classrooms and hid themselves under their desks.
Canada's prime minister called the shooting "a cowardly and senseless act of violence".Canada's prime minister called the shooting "a cowardly and senseless act of violence".
"Our primary concern right now is to ensure the safety and recovery of all those who were injured during this tragedy," Stephen Harper said."Our primary concern right now is to ensure the safety and recovery of all those who were injured during this tragedy," Stephen Harper said.
The shooting revived memories of a December 1989 attack in Montreal when a gunman shot and killed 14 young women in the Ecole Polytechnique before turning the gun on himself.The shooting revived memories of a December 1989 attack in Montreal when a gunman shot and killed 14 young women in the Ecole Polytechnique before turning the gun on himself.