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| Motive probed in US school attack | Motive probed in US school attack |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Pennsylvania police are investigating why a gunman killed four girls and critically injured eight others in an attack on a rural primary school. | Pennsylvania police are investigating why a gunman killed four girls and critically injured eight others in an attack on a rural primary school. |
| The school serves a pacifist Christian community known as the Amish, who shun technology and the modern world. | The school serves a pacifist Christian community known as the Amish, who shun technology and the modern world. |
| Charles Carl Roberts released women and boys before tying up all the girls and shooting them, before killing himself. | Charles Carl Roberts released women and boys before tying up all the girls and shooting them, before killing himself. |
| The authorities are examining suicide notes and believe Roberts' actions came in revenge for an event 20 years ago. | The authorities are examining suicide notes and believe Roberts' actions came in revenge for an event 20 years ago. |
| They are also looking at whether the death of an infant daughter in 1997 may have played a role in the attack by the 32-year-old milk tanker driver, who was not Amish himself. | They are also looking at whether the death of an infant daughter in 1997 may have played a role in the attack by the 32-year-old milk tanker driver, who was not Amish himself. |
| "No-one deserves this," state police commissioner Jeffrey Miller said. | "No-one deserves this," state police commissioner Jeffrey Miller said. |
| Monday morning's attack is the third shooting at a US school in the past week. | Monday morning's attack is the third shooting at a US school in the past week. |
| 'Revenge' | 'Revenge' |
| The local man had entered the one-roomed school in the village of Paradise, armed with guns, knives and 600 rounds of ammunition. | The local man had entered the one-roomed school in the village of Paradise, armed with guns, knives and 600 rounds of ammunition. |
| In pictures: School attack How the Amish shooting unfolded | In pictures: School attack How the Amish shooting unfolded |
| He ordered the boys to leave, along with a pregnant woman and three others with infants. | |
| The attacker then tied up the girls, aged between six and 13, barricaded the doors and shot them in the head, "execution style". | The attacker then tied up the girls, aged between six and 13, barricaded the doors and shot them in the head, "execution style". |
| By the time police stormed the building, three girls and the gunman were dead. A fourth girl died in hospital. One was a teenage teaching assistant. | By the time police stormed the building, three girls and the gunman were dead. A fourth girl died in hospital. One was a teenage teaching assistant. |
| Pennsylvania's police commissioner said the attack was a way of "acting out in revenge for something that happened 20 years ago," without giving details. | Pennsylvania's police commissioner said the attack was a way of "acting out in revenge for something that happened 20 years ago," without giving details. |
| The gunman had called his wife during the siege to tell her he was taking revenge for an old grudge, Mr Miller said. | The gunman had called his wife during the siege to tell her he was taking revenge for an old grudge, Mr Miller said. |
| From the suicide notes to his three children and phone calls, it was clear Roberts was "angry at life, he was angry at God," Mr Miller said. | From the suicide notes to his three children and phone calls, it was clear Roberts was "angry at life, he was angry at God," Mr Miller said. |
| In a statement, wife Marie described Roberts as a good and loving husband and father. | In a statement, wife Marie described Roberts as a good and loving husband and father. |
| It is not thought the attacker had anything against the Amish community, but chose the school because it was close by and had young girls. | It is not thought the attacker had anything against the Amish community, but chose the school because it was close by and had young girls. |
| Amish families gathered in a farmhouse near the school to share their grief. | Amish families gathered in a farmhouse near the school to share their grief. |
| School shootings | School shootings |
| 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. |
| 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? |
| They restrict the use of cars, telephones and television to varying degrees. | They restrict the use of cars, telephones and television to varying degrees. |
| The attack on their isolated community in Lancaster County comes at the end of a week of gun-related violence in US schools. | The attack on their isolated community in Lancaster County comes 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. |