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| Version 15 | Version 16 |
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| US school siege ends in bloodshed | US school siege ends in bloodshed |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| A gunman and one of the teenage girls he was holding hostage have died after police stormed a school in the US state of Colorado. | A gunman and one of the teenage girls he was holding hostage have died after police stormed a school in the US state of Colorado. |
| The violent end to the siege in the small mountain town of Bailey came after the gunman threatened to harm the two female students he was holding. | The violent end to the siege in the small mountain town of Bailey came after the gunman threatened to harm the two female students he was holding. |
| The local sheriff said the gunman had shot the hostage and then himself as police attempted to rescue the girls. | The local sheriff said the gunman had shot the hostage and then himself as police attempted to rescue the girls. |
| The gunman initially seized six girls, but later released four of them. | The gunman initially seized six girls, but later released four of them. |
| The injured girl was taken by helicopter to hospital in Denver, where she later died. The other girl was unhurt. | The injured girl was taken by helicopter to hospital in Denver, where she later died. The other girl was unhurt. |
| 'Tactical solution' | 'Tactical solution' |
| Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener said police had decided to storm a second-floor classroom at Platte Canyon High School, where the two girls were being held, after the gunman broke off negotiations. | Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener said police had decided to storm a second-floor classroom at Platte Canyon High School, where the two girls were being held, after the gunman broke off negotiations. |
| He said the breakdown in communication came 30 minutes before a deadline the gunman had set. | He said the breakdown in communication came 30 minutes before a deadline the gunman had set. |
| "It was then decided that a tactical solution needed to be done in an effort to save the two hostages that were in the room," Mr Wegener told reporters. | "It was then decided that a tactical solution needed to be done in an effort to save the two hostages that were in the room," Mr Wegener told reporters. |
| "Officers breached the classroom with explosives and within seconds the suspect shot at entering Swat (specialised response unit) officers, then shot one of the two female hostages, then shot himself." | "Officers breached the classroom with explosives and within seconds the suspect shot at entering Swat (specialised response unit) officers, then shot one of the two female hostages, then shot himself." |
| Mr Wegener said the motives of the gunman - described as being between 30 and 50 years old - were unknown. | Mr Wegener said the motives of the gunman - described as being between 30 and 50 years old - were unknown. |
| "I don't know the identity of the gunman. I don't know why he wanted to do this and hopefully the investigation will reveal who it is." | "I don't know the identity of the gunman. I don't know why he wanted to do this and hopefully the investigation will reveal who it is." |
| The incident began when the man entered the school around noon (1800 GMT) with a gun and a rucksack, which he claimed held an explosive device, police said. | The incident began when the man entered the school around noon (1800 GMT) with a gun and a rucksack, which he claimed held an explosive device, police said. |
| A newspaper in Park County quoted what appeared to be police radio reports. | A newspaper in Park County quoted what appeared to be police radio reports. |
| One message described the gunman as arriving at the school with a handgun and firing a single shot when a teacher refused to do what he asked. | One message described the gunman as arriving at the school with a handgun and firing a single shot when a teacher refused to do what he asked. |
| He then took six hostages. Negotiators later arranged the release of four of them. | He then took six hostages. Negotiators later arranged the release of four of them. |
| Columbine massacre | Columbine massacre |
| Staff and pupils were evacuated from the high school and nearby Fitzsimmons Middle School while a bomb squad and Swat teams were deployed from neighbouring Jefferson County. | Staff and pupils were evacuated from the high school and nearby Fitzsimmons Middle School while a bomb squad and Swat teams were deployed from neighbouring Jefferson County. |
| The two schools have nearly 800 students between them. | The two schools have nearly 800 students between them. |
| It was in Jefferson County in 1999 where two students killed 13 people at Columbine High School before taking their own lives. | It was in Jefferson County in 1999 where two students killed 13 people at Columbine High School before taking their own lives. |
| Bailey lies 56km (35 miles) south-west of the state capital, Denver. | Bailey lies 56km (35 miles) south-west of the state capital, Denver. |
| Are you in the area? You can contact us using the form below: | Are you in the area? You can contact us using the form below: |
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