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Funerals for Amish school victims Funerals for Amish school victims
(about 1 hour later)
The funerals of five Amish girls killed in a schoolroom massacre in the US state of Pennsylvania are under way.The funerals of five Amish girls killed in a schoolroom massacre in the US state of Pennsylvania are under way.
Hundreds of mourners gathered in Nickel Mines, as seven-year-old Naomi Rose Ebersole was buried at a the community's hilltop cemetery.Hundreds of mourners gathered in Nickel Mines, as seven-year-old Naomi Rose Ebersole was buried at a the community's hilltop cemetery.
Three more funerals were to follow, with a fifth on Friday. Three more girls are being buried on Thursday, with a fifth on Friday.
The girls were gunned down on Monday by a 32-year-old local man, Charles Roberts, who then killed himself. Five more girls were injured.The girls were gunned down on Monday by a 32-year-old local man, Charles Roberts, who then killed himself. Five more girls were injured.
Doctors treating the survivors have reportedly taken one girl off a life-support machine and allowed her to be taken home to die.Doctors treating the survivors have reportedly taken one girl off a life-support machine and allowed her to be taken home to die.
Roads into the village were closed off to maintain privacy, as Naomi Rose Ebersole was carried to the graveyard at the head of 32 horse-drawn coaches.Roads into the village were closed off to maintain privacy, as Naomi Rose Ebersole was carried to the graveyard at the head of 32 horse-drawn coaches.
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?
Marian Fisher, 13, Mary Liz Miller, eight, and her seven-year-old sister, Lena, were to be buried later. Less than four hours later, the procession for Marian Fisher, 13, began.
The final funeral for Thursday would be for the Miller sisters, Lena, seven, and eight-year-old Mary Liz.
The funeral of Anna Mae Stoltzfus, 12, is scheduled to take place on Friday.The funeral of Anna Mae Stoltzfus, 12, is scheduled to take place on Friday.
About 300 to 500 people were expected at each service.About 300 to 500 people were expected at each service.
The Anabaptist denomination eschews technology and preaches isolation from the modern world to varying degrees.The Anabaptist denomination eschews technology and preaches isolation from the modern world to varying degrees.
Amish burial customs call for simple wooden caskets - and a girl is typically laid to rest in a white dress, cape and white prayer-covering on her head, the victims' funeral director said.Amish burial customs call for simple wooden caskets - and a girl is typically laid to rest in a white dress, cape and white prayer-covering on her head, the victims' funeral director said.
ForgivenessForgiveness
The Amish have reached out to the family of Roberts, the 32-year-old milk-tanker driver who killed himself at the end of the shooting spree. Donations have been coming in from around the world to help with medical expenses - Amish do not carry health insurance.
A Roberts family spokesman said an Amish neighbour had comforted the family hours after the shooting - and extended forgiveness to them. One insurance company has pledged $500,000 (£265,000).
HAVE YOUR SAY Stricter gun-control laws would not have prevented this gruesome act David ZimlinFlorida, USA Send us your comments Mothers' concerns "I hope they stay around here and they'll have a lot of friends and a lot of support," said Daniel Esh, an Amish artist whose grand-nephews were inside the school at the start of the attack. HAVE YOUR SAY Stricter gun-control laws would not have prevented this gruesome act David ZimlinFlorida, USA Send us your comments Mothers' concerns
But the Amish have also reached out to the family of Roberts, the 32-year-old milk-tanker driver who killed himself at the end of the shooting spree.
Amish leaders have helped set up a fund for the family at a local bank.
A Roberts family spokesman said an Amish neighbour had also comforted the family hours after the shooting - and extended forgiveness to them.
"I hope they stay around here and they'll have a lot of friends and a lot of support," said Daniel Esh, an Amish artist whose grand-nephews were inside the school at the start of the attack.
In a final phone call, Roberts told his wife he had molested two young members of his own family 20 years ago.In a final phone call, Roberts told his wife he had molested two young members of his own family 20 years ago.
In suicide notes he also made references to another incident 20 years ago, and said he had been haunted by dreams of repeating his actions.In suicide notes he also made references to another incident 20 years ago, and said he had been haunted by dreams of repeating his actions.
Roberts had entered the one-room school in the village of Paradise, armed with guns, knives and 600 rounds of ammunition.Roberts had entered the one-room school in the village of Paradise, armed with guns, knives and 600 rounds of ammunition.
He ordered the women and boys to leave, tied up the girls, barricaded the doors and shot his captives in the head.He ordered the women and boys to leave, tied up the girls, barricaded the doors and shot his captives in the head.
Roberts' wife Marie and other family members have said he was a good and loving husband and father, and that prior to Monday's attack there had been no hint of what he was planning.Roberts' wife Marie and other family members have said he was a good and loving husband and father, and that prior to Monday's attack there had been no hint of what he was planning.