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Switzerland gunman kills three in Daillon in Valais Switzerland gunman kills three in Daillon in Valais
(about 1 hour later)
A gunman has opened fire in a village in Switzerland, killing three people and wounding two others, Swiss police say. A gunman has opened fire in a village in Switzerland, killing three people and wounding two others, police say.
The attack happened on Wednesday at around 21:00 (20:00 GMT) in the village of Daillon in Valais canton, 100km (60 miles) east of Geneva.The attack happened on Wednesday at around 21:00 (20:00 GMT) in the village of Daillon in Valais canton, 100km (60 miles) east of Geneva.
The gunman had reportedly been drinking heavily before the shooting. Police shot and wounded the suspect after he threatened to turn a gun on them. He has been arrested.
Police dispatched to the scene arrested a suspect who was shot and wounded after he threatened them. Investigations revealed the man was a known drug addict and former mental health patient, authorities say.
"Three victims died at the scene," said Valais police. "Two other people were wounded and hospitalised." The unnamed suspect, whom witnesses identified to local media as a 30-year-old Daillon resident, fired around 20 shots at his victims, general prosecutor Catherine Sappey said at a news conference on Thursday.
They had rushed to the village after calls reporting that several people were lying in the street after a spate of gunfire. At least two weapons were used in the attack, including a hunting gun and a historical army rifle known as a carbine, which dates back to the first half of the 20th Century.
Village cordoned off Police had previously confiscated weapons from the suspect in 2005 when he was placed in a psychiatric ward, Ms Sappey told journalists.
Police did not name the arrested man, whom witnesses identified to local media as a 30-year-old Daillon resident. Back then, "he was not known for having issued threats," she added.
The gunman was armed with an assault rifle and was thought to have been drinking heavily, Swiss website 20minutes reported. 'Knew victims'
His motives were still unclear, police spokesman Jean-Marie Bornet said on Thursday The assailant is thought to have been related to some of his victims, who include a couple, the general prosecutor said.
"At the moment there is incomprehension and shock here in Valais," he said. The woman died from her injuries while the man is still in hospital. The couple have two children.
The motives for the attack remain unclear at this stage.
Police had rushed to the village after calls reporting that several people were lying in the street after a spate of gunfire.
"At the moment there is incomprehension and shock here in Valais," police spokesman Jean-Marie Bornet said.
"The toll is very, very heavy. It's a sombre start to the year for the canton.""The toll is very, very heavy. It's a sombre start to the year for the canton."
Mr Bornet added that darkness had hampered police efforts to detain the suspect.Mr Bornet added that darkness had hampered police efforts to detain the suspect.
"It wasn't easy to intervene in the darkness. The gunman turned his weapon on the officers, who had to shoot him in order not to be injured themselves.""It wasn't easy to intervene in the darkness. The gunman turned his weapon on the officers, who had to shoot him in order not to be injured themselves."
Nathalie Frizzi, an eyewitness who lives close to the scene of the shooting, told local daily Le Nouvelliste she had been walking her dog when she heard loud bangs.Nathalie Frizzi, an eyewitness who lives close to the scene of the shooting, told local daily Le Nouvelliste she had been walking her dog when she heard loud bangs.
"There were people running around near the chapel," she is quoted as saying."There were people running around near the chapel," she is quoted as saying.
"At first I didn't realise what was going. I thought children were shooting at cats and I called out for them to stop. I am still shocked that I could have been hit by a bullet.""At first I didn't realise what was going. I thought children were shooting at cats and I called out for them to stop. I am still shocked that I could have been hit by a bullet."
Police have cordoned off the village and an investigation is under way.
Gun attacks are rare in Switzerland, but shooting is a very popular sport in the country and the level of gun ownership is high.Gun attacks are rare in Switzerland, but shooting is a very popular sport in the country and the level of gun ownership is high.
There are an estimated two to three million guns in circulation, although no-one knows the exact number because there is no national firearms register.There are an estimated two to three million guns in circulation, although no-one knows the exact number because there is no national firearms register.
In addition to the semi-automatic assault rifle that all those serving in the army store at home, there are thousands of hunting rifles and pistols.In addition to the semi-automatic assault rifle that all those serving in the army store at home, there are thousands of hunting rifles and pistols.
Most towns and villages having a shooting club that meets for target practice at least once a week.Most towns and villages having a shooting club that meets for target practice at least once a week.
The BBC's Imogen Foulkes, in the Swiss capital Berne, says it is believed the weapon used was a standard-issue Swiss army assault rifle.
If this is confirmed, our correspondent says it will call into question Switzerland's relatively liberal gun laws, in which Swiss men, all of whom must serve in the army, keep their guns at home.
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