This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/5401478.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Motive probed in US school attack Motive probed in US school attack
(about 3 hours 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 girls at a rural primary school which serves the Amish, a pacifist Christian community.
The school serves a pacifist Christian community known as the Amish, who shun technology and the modern world. A fifth girl died of her wounds on Tuesday morning, a day after the attack, which also left seven wounded.
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. He then killed 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 shooting unfolded
He ordered the boys to leave, along with a pregnant woman and three others with infants.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 shootingsSchool 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.
name="say">
action="http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/cgiemail/newstalk/form_all.txt" method="post"> name="email_subject" type="hidden" value="Amish shooting HYS"> name="mailto" type="hidden" value="talkingpoint@bbc.co.uk"> name="success" type="hidden" value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/have_your_say/html/have_your_say_thanks.stm"> Name
href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=4075&start=0&edition=2&ttl=20061003115242" class="bodl">Have Your Say: Is access to guns too easy?