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Motive probed in US school attack Motive probed in US school attack
(20 minutes later)
Pennsylvania police are investigating why a gunman killed girls at a rural primary school which serves the Amish, a pacifist Christian community.Pennsylvania police are investigating why a gunman killed girls at a rural primary school which serves the Amish, a pacifist Christian community.
A fifth girl died of her wounds on Tuesday morning, a day after the attack, which also left seven wounded. A fifth girl died of her wounds on Tuesday morning and five others remain in hospital a day after the attack.
Charles Carl Roberts released women and boys before tying up the girls and shooting them. He then killed himself.Charles Carl Roberts released women and boys before tying up the girls and shooting them. He then killed himself.
The White House has announced it is hosting a conference over fatal attacks at US schools over the past week. The White House has said it plans to host a conference after what is the third fatal school attack in a week.
Pennsylvania authorities are examining suicide notes and believe Roberts' actions came in revenge for an event 20 years ago. Pennsylvania authorities are examining suicide notes the 32-year-old gunman left for his three children.
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. Roberts did not appear to be targeting the Amish and apparently chose the school because he was intent on killing young girls "in revenge for something that happened 20 years ago," said state police commissioner Jeffrey Miller.
"No-one deserves this," state police commissioner Jeffrey Miller said. Police are also looking at whether the death of an infant daughter in 1997 may have played a role in the attack by the milk tanker driver, who was not Amish himself.
Monday morning's attack is the third shooting at a US school in the past week. "This is a horrendous, horrific incident for the Amish community," Mr Miller said.
'Revenge' 'Execution style'
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.
Stricter gun-control laws would not have prevented this gruesome act David ZimlinFlorida, US Your Say: Gun access easy? In pictures: School attackStricter gun-control laws would not have prevented this gruesome act David ZimlinFlorida, US Your Say: Gun access easy? In pictures: School attack
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.
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. Two more girls died in hospital - a nine-year-old died at about 0100 (0500 GMT) and a seven-year-old died at about 0430 (0830 GMT).
One other girl remained in critical condition and another four were described as stable, state police said.
Police spokeswoman Linette Quinn said the two girls who died overnight had suffered "very severe injuries, but the other ones are coming along very well".
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 children and phone calls he made, 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, the man's 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.
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.
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.
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?
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.