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| Fatal shooting at US Amish school | Fatal shooting at US Amish school |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A gunman has shot dead three girls and injured seven others before killing himself in an attack on an Amish school in the US state of Pennsylvania. | A gunman has shot dead three girls and injured seven others before killing himself in an attack on an Amish school in the US state of Pennsylvania. |
| The gunman entered the class and ordered all the boys and some adults to leave. He then tied up the girls and began shooting them in the head. | The gunman entered the class and ordered all the boys and some adults to leave. He then tied up the girls and began shooting them in the head. |
| Police named the killer as 32-year-old truck driver Charles Carl Roberts IV. He is not Amish himself. | Police named the killer as 32-year-old truck driver Charles Carl Roberts IV. He is not Amish himself. |
| The attack is the third shooting at a US school in the past week. | The attack is the third shooting at a US school in the past week. |
| In the latest shooting, the gunman was said to be heavily armed and seemed prepared for a long siege. | In the latest shooting, the gunman was said to be heavily armed and seemed prepared for a long siege. |
| He lined up the girls in front of the blackboard, tying their feet using wire or plastic cuffs. | He lined up the girls in front of the blackboard, tying their feet using wire or plastic cuffs. |
| In pictures: School attack How the Amish shooting unfolded | In pictures: School attack How the Amish shooting unfolded |
| "It appears that when he began shooting these victims, the victims were shot execution style in the head," said Pennsylvania police commissioner Col Jeffrey Miller. | "It appears that when he began shooting these victims, the victims were shot execution style in the head," said Pennsylvania police commissioner Col Jeffrey Miller. |
| The attack happened at a one-room school for Amish children aged six to 13 in the village of Paradise near Nickel Mines in Lancaster County. | The attack happened at a one-room school for Amish children aged six to 13 in the village of Paradise near Nickel Mines in Lancaster County. |
| The Amish are the Anabaptist Christian descendants of German settlers who reject many types of modern technology in their effort to lead a life true to holy scriptures. | The Amish are the Anabaptist Christian descendants of German settlers who reject many types of modern technology in their effort to lead a life true to holy scriptures. |
| They restrict the use of cars, telephones and television to varying degrees. | They restrict the use of cars, telephones and television to varying degrees. |
| Col Jeffrey B Miller said the gunman entered Georgetown School in the morning, armed with an automatic handgun and shotgun. | Col Jeffrey B Miller said the gunman entered Georgetown School in the morning, armed with an automatic handgun and shotgun. |
| He told the boys to leave, along with a pregnant woman and three women who had young infants with them. | He told the boys to leave, along with a pregnant woman and three women who had young infants with them. |
| He then tied up the girls and barricaded the doors with large pieces of wood. | He then tied up the girls and barricaded the doors with large pieces of wood. |
| Police arrived at the scene at about 1045 (1445 GMT) and set up a cordon around the school, Col Miller said. | Police arrived at the scene at about 1045 (1445 GMT) and set up a cordon around the school, Col Miller said. |
| The officers tried hailing the gunman on their car loudspeakers, but were unable to make contact, he said. | The officers tried hailing the gunman on their car loudspeakers, but were unable to make contact, he said. |
| The Associated Press news agency quotes Col Miller as saying a person who visited the school passed on a warning from the gunman that he would open fire unless the police withdrew. | The Associated Press news agency quotes Col Miller as saying a person who visited the school passed on a warning from the gunman that he would open fire unless the police withdrew. |
| As the message was going through shots fired in rapid succession were heard, Col Miller said. | As the message was going through shots fired in rapid succession were heard, Col Miller said. |
| Police stormed the building, breaking the windows to enter. But by the time they got there three girls and the gunman were dead. | Police stormed the building, breaking the windows to enter. But by the time they got there three girls and the gunman were dead. |
| Seven people were found injured, at least three of whom were shot in the head. | Seven people were found injured, at least three of whom were shot in the head. |
| 'Normal behaviour' | 'Normal behaviour' |
| Roberts was a local milk tanker driver who often picked up milk from Amish farms in the area. | Roberts was a local milk tanker driver who often picked up milk from Amish farms in the area. |
| A father of three, he had worked his night shift as usual on Sunday night, finishing at 0300 on Monday. | A father of three, he had worked his night shift as usual on Sunday night, finishing at 0300 on Monday. |
| FACTS ABOUT THE AMISH Anabaptist Christian denominationCommunities in the US and CanadaMany communities reject links to outside worldMost Amish shun modern technology including electricity and carsPlain clothing - no buttons allowed in some communitiesSpeak English and a German dialect called Pennsylvania Dutch Who are the Amish? | FACTS ABOUT THE AMISH Anabaptist Christian denominationCommunities in the US and CanadaMany communities reject links to outside worldMost Amish shun modern technology including electricity and carsPlain clothing - no buttons allowed in some communitiesSpeak English and a German dialect called Pennsylvania Dutch Who are the Amish? |
| His wife said he had seemed perfectly normal as he walked his children to the school bus at 0845, as he did every day. | His wife said he had seemed perfectly normal as he walked his children to the school bus at 0845, as he did every day. |
| However, when his wife returned to the family home around mid-morning she discovered suicide notes that he had written to each of his children. | However, when his wife returned to the family home around mid-morning she discovered suicide notes that he had written to each of his children. |
| The police said there were indications that he was motivated by an incident that happened some 20 years ago. | |
| It is not thought that Roberts had anything against the Amish community but chose the school because it was close by and had young girls. | |
| In a separate incident, two Las Vegas schools, one high school and one elementary school, were temporarily locked down while police hunted for a teenager spotted carrying a gun on the high school campus. | In a separate incident, two Las Vegas schools, one high school and one elementary school, were temporarily locked down while police hunted for a teenager spotted carrying a gun on the high school campus. |
| These latest incidents come at the end of a week of gun-related violence in US schools. | These latest incidents come at the end of a week of gun-related violence in US schools. |
| Last Wednesday a 16-year-old girl died when an armed man, who also killed himself, took six students hostage at a Colorado high school. | Last Wednesday a 16-year-old girl died when an armed man, who also killed himself, took six students hostage at a Colorado high school. |
| And on Friday, a head teacher at a high school in Wisconsin was killed when he confronted an armed 15-year-old student as he entered the school. | And on Friday, a head teacher at a high school in Wisconsin was killed when he confronted an armed 15-year-old student as he entered the school. |
Are you in the area close to this incident? Use the form below to send any information. | Are you in the area close to this incident? Use the form below to send any information. |