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| Gun siege at Colorado high school | Gun siege at Colorado high school |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Staff and pupils have been evacuated from a high school in the US state of Colorado, where a gunman is believed to be holding two female students hostage. | |
| Snipers and a bomb squad have been sent to Platte Canyon High School, in the town of Bailey. | |
| Witnesses said they heard at least two shots being fired, but the hostages are said to be unharmed. | |
| Talks between police and the gunman, who claims to have explosives, are said to be under way. | |
| TV pictures show a long line of people streaming away towards school buses. | TV pictures show a long line of people streaming away towards school buses. |
| 'Ruckack bomb' | |
| According to reports, the gunman initially took as many as six people hostage just before noon before releasing all but two. | |
| "An adult is holding the hostages, he claims to have explosives," said Lance Clem, spokesman for the Colorado state troopers, was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. | "An adult is holding the hostages, he claims to have explosives," said Lance Clem, spokesman for the Colorado state troopers, was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. |
| Colorado radio journalist Jerry Bell told BBC News 24 that the gunman was holding two girls in a classroom on the second floor. | Colorado radio journalist Jerry Bell told BBC News 24 that the gunman was holding two girls in a classroom on the second floor. |
| The 35-year-old is said to be carrying a bomb in a rucksack, the journalist added. | The 35-year-old is said to be carrying a bomb in a rucksack, the journalist added. |
| A newspaper in Park County, where Bailey is situated, has been quoting what appear to be police radio reports. | |
| One message describes the gunman as arriving at the school with a "black squarish-looking gun" and firing a single shot when a teacher refuses to do what he asks. | |
| As of 1150 local time (1750 GMT), the gunman was holding students in a room, The Flume adds. | |
| Close to Columbine | |
| Platte Canyon High and neighbouring Fitzsimmons Middle School have about 800 students enrolled between them. | Platte Canyon High and neighbouring Fitzsimmons Middle School have about 800 students enrolled between them. |
| "The two schools have been in lockdown," an official in the Park County Sheriff's office told AFP news agency. | "The two schools have been in lockdown," an official in the Park County Sheriff's office told AFP news agency. |
| Bailey lies 56km (35 miles) south-west of the state capital, Denver. | |
| Police have been called in from neighbouring Jefferson County where in 1999, two students killed 13 people at Columbine High School before taking their own lives. | Police have been called in from neighbouring Jefferson County where in 1999, two students killed 13 people at Columbine High School before taking their own lives. |
| However, Jefferson County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Jacki Kelley said the situation at Platte Canyon High was "quite different". | |
| 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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