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Fatal shooting at US Amish school | Fatal shooting at US Amish school |
(30 minutes later) | |
A gunman has shot dead three children and injured seven before killing himself in an attack on an Amish school the US state of Pennsylvania. | |
The attack happened in a one-room schoolhouse in the village of Paradise near Nickel Mines in Lancaster County. | The attack happened in a one-room schoolhouse in the village of Paradise near Nickel Mines in Lancaster County. |
The gunman entered the mixed class and ordered all male pupils and some adults to leave. He then tied up the girls and began shooting them in the head. | |
Police say the killer was a local truck driver named Charles Carl Roberts IV. | |
The Amish are Anabaptist Christians who live away from the modern world, with restrictions on the use of modern devices such as cars and telephones. | The Amish are Anabaptist Christians who live away from the modern world, with restrictions on the use of modern devices such as cars and telephones. |
John Lines, a spokesman from Lancaster Hospital, said three of the injured people were girls aged between six and 11, all of whom had been shot in the head. | |
The school has pupils up to the age of 14 and was used by about 30 pupils. | |
Week of violence | Week of violence |
John Eby from WDAC radio based in Lancaster County told the BBC that the Amish community would be deeply shocked by the attack. | John Eby from WDAC radio based in Lancaster County told the BBC that the Amish community would be deeply shocked by the attack. |
"This school is a one room school, it's surrounded by farms and small businesses, many of them owned and operated by the Amish who are a very close, tight-knit community and for something like this to invade their community is just unbelievable," he said. | "This school is a one room school, it's surrounded by farms and small businesses, many of them owned and operated by the Amish who are a very close, tight-knit community and for something like this to invade their community is just unbelievable," he said. |
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 In pictures: School attack In a separate incident, two Las Vegas schools, one high school and one elementary school, have been locked down while police hunt for a teenager spotted carrying a gun on the high school campus. | 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 In pictures: School attack In a separate incident, two Las Vegas schools, one high school and one elementary school, have been locked down while police hunt for a teenager spotted carrying a gun on the high school campus. |
Swat teams have surrounded the schools - Mojave High and Elizonda Elementary. Dog units combing the area have reportedly found a weapon, but police fear the suspect may still be armed. | Swat teams have surrounded the schools - Mojave High and Elizonda Elementary. Dog units combing the area have reportedly found a weapon, but police fear the suspect may still be armed. |
These latest incidents follow a week of gun-related violence in US schools | These latest incidents follow a week of gun-related violence in US schools |
Last Wednesday a 16-year-old girl died when an armed man took six students hostage at a Colorado high school. | Last Wednesday a 16-year-old girl died when an armed man took six students hostage at a Colorado high school. |
Emily Keyes was shot when officers stormed the school in Bailey after more than three hours. The gunman also killed himself. | Emily Keyes was shot when officers stormed the school in Bailey after more than three hours. The gunman also killed himself. |
And on Friday, John Klang, the head teacher at a high school in Cazenovia, Wisconsin, was killed when he confronted an armed 15-year-old student as he entered the school. | And on Friday, John Klang, the head teacher at a high school in Cazenovia, Wisconsin, was killed when he confronted an armed 15-year-old student as he entered the school. |
The teenager, Eric Hainstock, was arrested and has been charged with murder. | The teenager, Eric Hainstock, was arrested and has been charged with murder. |
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. |