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| US school siege ends in bloodshed | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A gunman has died and a teenage girl has been critically injured after police stormed a high school in the US state of Colorado, authorities say. | |
| The violent end to the siege at Platte Canyon High School came after the gunman reportedly threatened to harm the two girls he was holding hostage. | |
| The injured girl was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition. The other hostage was unharmed. | |
| The gunman initially took six girls hostage, before releasing four of them. | |
| Staff and pupils were evacuated from the school, in the town of Bailey, after the gunman entered the building shortly after noon. | |
| TV pictures showed a long line of people streaming away towards school buses, and students comforting each other. | TV pictures showed a long line of people streaming away towards school buses, and students comforting each other. |
| 'Rucksack bomb' | 'Rucksack bomb' |
| Before police stormed the building, Colorado radio journalist Jerry Bell told BBC News 24 that the gunman was holding two girls in a classroom on the second floor. | |
| He was said to be carrying a bomb in a rucksack, the journalist added. | |
| A newspaper in Park County, where Bailey is situated, quoted what appeared to be police radio reports. | A newspaper in Park County, where Bailey is situated, quoted what appeared to be police radio reports. |
| One message described the gunman as arriving at the school with a "black squarish-looking gun" and firing a single shot when a teacher refused to do what he asks. | One message described the gunman as arriving at the school with a "black squarish-looking gun" and firing a single shot when a teacher refused to do what he asks. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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: |
| You can send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them (+44) 07725 100 100. Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | You can send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them (+44) 07725 100 100. Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
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