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Switzerland gunman kills three in Daillon in Valais Switzerland gunman kills three in Daillon in Valais
(35 minutes later)
A gunman has opened fire in a village in Switzerland, killing three people and wounding two others, 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.
Police shot and wounded the suspect after he threatened to turn a gun on them. He has been arrested.Police shot and wounded the suspect after he threatened to turn a gun on them. He has been arrested.
Investigations revealed the man was a known drug addict and former mental health patient, authorities say.Investigations revealed the man was a known drug addict and former mental health patient, authorities say.
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. The unnamed suspect in the Daillon attack is a 33-year-old unemployed ward of court, police said at a news conference on Thursday.
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. He fired at least 20 shots at his victims. Three women died instantly, while two men were also injured in the attack.
Police had previously confiscated weapons from the suspect in 2005 when he was placed in a psychiatric ward, Ms Sappey told journalists. The weapons used in the shooting include a hunting gun and a historical army rifle known as a carbine, which dates back to the first half of the 20th Century, general prosecutor Catherine Sappey said.
Back then, "he was not known for having issued threats," she added. Police had previously confiscated weapons from the suspect in 2005 when he was placed in a psychiatric ward.
'Knew victims' Back then, "he was not known for having issued threats," Ms Sappey added.
The assailant is thought to have been related to some of his victims, who include a couple, the general prosecutor said. Gun laws
The woman died from her injuries while the man is still in hospital. The couple have two children. The BBC's Imogen Foulkes, in the Swiss capital of Bern, says the case is certain to call into question Switzerland's relatively liberal gun laws, under which Swiss men, all of whom must serve in the army, keep their guns at home.
The motives for the attack remain unclear at this stage. The motives for the attack remain unclear at this stage but the assailant is thought to have been related to some of his victims, who include a couple, the general prosecutor said.
Police had rushed to the village after calls reporting that several people were lying in the street after a spate of gunfire. The woman died from her injuries while the man is still in hospital.
"At the moment there is incomprehension and shock here in Valais," police spokesman Jean-Marie Bornet said. "It wasn't easy to intervene. The gunman turned his weapon on the officers, who had to shoot him in order not to be injured themselves," said police spokesman Jean-Marie Bornet.
"The toll is very, very heavy. It's a sombre start to the year for the canton." Eyewitness Nathalie Frizzi told local daily Le Nouvelliste: "At first I didn't realise what was going on. 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."
Mr Bornet added that darkness had hampered police efforts to detain the suspect. In a separate incident on Wednesday evening, an armed man in another Swiss village stormed into a restaurant and fired into the ceiling before being overpowered by customers, our correspondent says.
"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." Gun attacks are rare in Switzerland, but shooting is a very popular sport in the country.
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.
"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."
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.
Most towns and villages having a shooting club that meets for target practice at least once a week.
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