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German school gunman 'kills 16' German school gunman 'kills 16'
(30 minutes later)
Sixteen people have been killed after a teenage gunman went on a rampage in south-west Germany, officials say. Sixteen people have been killed by a teenage gunman who went on a rampage in south-west Germany, officials say.
Among the dead were 10 pupils and three teachers at the Albertville secondary school in Winnenden, north of Stuttgart, police say.Among the dead were 10 pupils and three teachers at the Albertville secondary school in Winnenden, north of Stuttgart, police say.
The gunman, a 17-year-old former pupil, entered the school at about 0945 (0845 GMT) dressed in black combat gear and opened fire at random. The gunman, a 17-year-old former pupil, entered the school at about 0930 (0830 GMT) dressed in black combat gear and opened fire at random.
He fled in a stolen car, but was later killed in a shoot-out with police.He fled in a stolen car, but was later killed in a shoot-out with police.
See where the school shooting took place See where the school shooting took place
German Chancellor Angela Merkel described the shooting as "incomprehensible".German Chancellor Angela Merkel described the shooting as "incomprehensible".
'Heart-breaking' "It is unimaginable that in just seconds, pupils and teachers were killed - it is an appalling crime," she told reporters.
Police said the suspect - who has not yet been identified - was killed during a shoot-out with officers in the town of Wendlingen, about 40km (25 miles) away from the school. "This is a day of mourning for for the whole of Germany."
The police said he fled there in a car he had hijacked after the school shooting - killing a passer-by as he made his escape. 'Trembling and crying'
Police spokesman Inka Buckmueller said the shoot-out took place at a car showroom, where two bystanders were killed and two police officers were injured. Police said the suspect - now named as Tim Kretschmer - was killed during a shoot-out with officers in the town of Wendlingen, about 40km (25 miles) away from the school.
He had fled there in a car he had hijacked after the school shooting - killing a passer-by as he made his escape, police said.
Spokeswoman Inka Buckmiller said the shoot-out took place at a car showroom, where two bystanders were killed and two police officers were injured.
GERMAN SCHOOL ATTACKS 2006: A former pupil injures 11 students at a school in western town of Emsdetten before turning the gun on himself. 2002: A former pupil kills 17 people in his school in the eastern city of Erfurt, then kills himself. In pictures: School shootingTimeline of school shootings
"The suspect also died as a result of this shooting," she said."The suspect also died as a result of this shooting," she said.
Baden-Wuerttemburg state governor Guenther Oettinger said police killed the suspect, the Associated Press reported.Baden-Wuerttemburg state governor Guenther Oettinger said police killed the suspect, the Associated Press reported.
GERMAN SCHOOL ATTACKS 2006: A former pupil injures 11 students at a school in western town of Emsdetten before turning the gun on himself. 2002: A former pupil kills 17 people in his school in the eastern city of Erfurt, then kills himself. In pictures: School shootingTimeline of school shootings
In total, 10 students, three teachers and three passers-by are thought to be among the dead.In total, 10 students, three teachers and three passers-by are thought to be among the dead.
The attack is reported to have begun at about 0945 (0845 GMT). One woman said her daughter had been in the school at the time of the shooting, and she was now at home "trembling and crying".
The gunman "went into the school with a weapon and carried out a bloodbath", regional police chief Erwin Hetger said, AP reported. "She and her friend jumped out of the window. Her friend is now in hospital... We hope that she's all right," the woman said.
"What can I say? I don't understand the world any more."
'Heart-breaking'
Regional police chief Erwin Hetger said the teenager "went into the school with a weapon and carried out a bloodbath", according to the Associated Press.
"I've never seen anything like this in my life," he said."I've never seen anything like this in my life," he said.
Mr Hetger said informing the families of what had happened was a heart-breaking job.Mr Hetger said informing the families of what had happened was a heart-breaking job.
"Our thoughts are concentrated on the parents. I have looked some of them in the eye, and it's damn hard to keep your composure," he said."Our thoughts are concentrated on the parents. I have looked some of them in the eye, and it's damn hard to keep your composure," he said.
The chief reporter of the Stuttgart Journal newspaper, Kevin Latzel, told the BBC that there was a lot of confusion at the school. Local media reported that police had raided the youth's house and recovered 16 weapons.
The teenager's father, thought to be a prominent businessman in the area, was reported to be a member of a local shooting club.
Earlier, the chief reporter of the Stuttgart Journal newspaper, Kevin Latzel, told the BBC that there was a lot of confusion at the school.
"It's very horrible... the parents are crying, the pupils are crying and a lot of police is there and nobody knows really what happened," he said."It's very horrible... the parents are crying, the pupils are crying and a lot of police is there and nobody knows really what happened," he said.
"They are very afraid, the pupils are calling their parents and the parents they want to pick [them] up but they can't do this, the parents they are not allowed to get into the classrooms," he added.
Witnesses said students jumped from the windows of the school after the gunman opened fire.
About 1,000 children are thought to attend the Albertville school, about 20km (12 miles) north-east of Stuttgart.About 1,000 children are thought to attend the Albertville school, about 20km (12 miles) north-east of Stuttgart.
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