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| US university shooting kills 33 | US university shooting kills 33 |
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| A US shooting rampage at the Virginia Tech university has left 33 people, including a suspected gunman, dead. | A US shooting rampage at the Virginia Tech university has left 33 people, including a suspected gunman, dead. |
| There were two incidents two hours apart, at a student dorm where two were killed and at an engineering building where 30 and the gunman died. | There were two incidents two hours apart, at a student dorm where two were killed and at an engineering building where 30 and the gunman died. |
| Officers said they were working to link the attacks and had not yet identified the gunman. Fifteen people were hurt. | Officers said they were working to link the attacks and had not yet identified the gunman. Fifteen people were hurt. |
| After the deadliest shooting rampage in US history, President George W Bush said the US was "shocked and saddened". | After the deadliest shooting rampage in US history, President George W Bush said the US was "shocked and saddened". |
| "Schools should be places of safety and sanctuary and learning. When that sanctuary is violated, the impact is felt in every American classroom and every American community," he said. | "Schools should be places of safety and sanctuary and learning. When that sanctuary is violated, the impact is felt in every American classroom and every American community," he said. |
| The state university in the town of Blacksburg is home to 26,000 students. | The state university in the town of Blacksburg is home to 26,000 students. |
| Click here to see a map of Virginia Tech campus | Click here to see a map of Virginia Tech campus |
| The shooter shot the door twice at chest level, which resulted in two holes in the door, one of which hit the podium in the front of the classroom Nikolas Macko, student Shooter tried the door E-mail witness accounts | The shooter shot the door twice at chest level, which resulted in two holes in the door, one of which hit the podium in the front of the classroom Nikolas Macko, student Shooter tried the door E-mail witness accounts |
| Virginia Tech police chief Wendell Flinchum said that emergency services had received a call at 0715 (1215 GMT) alerting them to a shooting at the dormitory - West Ambler Johnston Hall. | Virginia Tech police chief Wendell Flinchum said that emergency services had received a call at 0715 (1215 GMT) alerting them to a shooting at the dormitory - West Ambler Johnston Hall. |
| He said that two hours later there was a second report of shooting, this time at the engineering building, Norris Hall. | He said that two hours later there was a second report of shooting, this time at the engineering building, Norris Hall. |
| Asked why the campus was not closed after the first shooting, Mr Flinchum said that, at that stage, it was thought to be an isolated incident. | Asked why the campus was not closed after the first shooting, Mr Flinchum said that, at that stage, it was thought to be an isolated incident. |
| Police believed the first shooting may have been a "domestic incident" and that the gunman had left the campus. | Police believed the first shooting may have been a "domestic incident" and that the gunman had left the campus. |
| 'Many, many shots' | 'Many, many shots' |
| Eyewitnesses said some students jumped from classroom windows to escape the gunfire, which triggered panic on campus. | Eyewitnesses said some students jumped from classroom windows to escape the gunfire, which triggered panic on campus. |
| Some of those locked down inside the university buildings were using the internet to try to glean information about what was happening and many e-mailed the BBC News website. | Some of those locked down inside the university buildings were using the internet to try to glean information about what was happening and many e-mailed the BBC News website. |
| Nikolas Macko was in a mathematics class in Norris Hall when he heard a series of loud bangs in the hallway which prompted a female student sitting near the door to move to close it. | Nikolas Macko was in a mathematics class in Norris Hall when he heard a series of loud bangs in the hallway which prompted a female student sitting near the door to move to close it. |
| WORST US SCHOOLS SHOOTINGS 1 August 1966 - Sniper Charles Whitman kills 14 people and injures dozens at University of Texas20 April 1999 - Two teenagers at Columbine High School, Colorado, kill 13 before killing themselves21 March 2005 - A teenager on an Indian reservation in Red Lake, Minnesota, kills nine In pictures: Virginia shootings href="/1/hi/world/americas/6562115.stm">In quotes: Shooting reaction class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/4371403.stm">Timeline: US school shootings | |
| "She peeked out into the hallway, and saw the shooter, so she immediately closed the door. Three other students moved a table that was in front of the room - it seats approximately 40 students at capacity - and barricaded it against the door. | "She peeked out into the hallway, and saw the shooter, so she immediately closed the door. Three other students moved a table that was in front of the room - it seats approximately 40 students at capacity - and barricaded it against the door. |
| "A few seconds later, the shooter tried to open the door, but my classmates kept it well shut, as they held the table against it from floor level. | "A few seconds later, the shooter tried to open the door, but my classmates kept it well shut, as they held the table against it from floor level. |
| "The shooter shot the door twice at chest level, which resulted in two holes in the door, one of which hit the podium in the front of the class room and the other continued out the window. At this point he reloaded, shot the door again - this shot did not penetrate - and moved on to the other classrooms," Mr Macko said. | "The shooter shot the door twice at chest level, which resulted in two holes in the door, one of which hit the podium in the front of the class room and the other continued out the window. At this point he reloaded, shot the door again - this shot did not penetrate - and moved on to the other classrooms," Mr Macko said. |
| He said there were "many, many shots" fired. | He said there were "many, many shots" fired. |
| A fleet of ambulances ferried the injured to nearby hospitals. However, rescue efforts were reportedly hampered by high winds which meant that medical helicopters could not be used. | A fleet of ambulances ferried the injured to nearby hospitals. However, rescue efforts were reportedly hampered by high winds which meant that medical helicopters could not be used. |
| Motive unclear | Motive unclear |
| Mr Flinchum said the gunman had no identity on him and it was unclear if he was a student. | Mr Flinchum said the gunman had no identity on him and it was unclear if he was a student. |
| Virginia Tech President Charles Steger said: "Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions." | Virginia Tech President Charles Steger said: "Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions." |
| He said the university was in the process of informing the next of kin of those killed and that counsellors were in place at the campus for student families. | He said the university was in the process of informing the next of kin of those killed and that counsellors were in place at the campus for student families. |
| The university urged students to call parents to let them know they were safe. | The university urged students to call parents to let them know they were safe. |
| The deadliest mass US shooting prior to the Virginia attack was in Texas in 1991 when George Hennard killed 23 people and himself in a cafeteria. | The deadliest mass US shooting prior to the Virginia attack was in Texas in 1991 when George Hennard killed 23 people and himself in a cafeteria. |
| The US also has a history of deadly school shootings. | The US also has a history of deadly school shootings. |
| In 1966, the day after killing his wife and mother, gunman Charles Whitman opened fire from a tower on the campus of the University of Texas killing 14 people and injuring 31 others. | In 1966, the day after killing his wife and mother, gunman Charles Whitman opened fire from a tower on the campus of the University of Texas killing 14 people and injuring 31 others. |
| In 1999 two teenagers at Columbine High School in Colorado killed 12 fellow students and a teacher before taking their own lives. | In 1999 two teenagers at Columbine High School in Colorado killed 12 fellow students and a teacher before taking their own lives. |
| VIRGINIA TECH CAMPUS 1. 0715, shooting reported at the dormitory building2. About two hours later a further shooting is reported | VIRGINIA TECH CAMPUS 1. 0715, shooting reported at the dormitory building2. About two hours later a further shooting is reported |
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| Are you in the area? Did you witness the shootings? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. If you have any pictures or video you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? Did you witness the shootings? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. If you have any pictures or video you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk. |
| Click here for more information on how to send your pictures | Click here for more information on how to send your pictures |