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Austrian gunman shoots four dead | Austrian gunman shoots four dead |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Three police officers and an emergency worker have been shot dead while trying to arrest a suspected poacher, the Austrian interior ministry has said. | Three police officers and an emergency worker have been shot dead while trying to arrest a suspected poacher, the Austrian interior ministry has said. |
Police armed with machine-guns are surrounding a farmhouse near Annaberg in Lower Austria, where the suspect has barricaded himself in. | |
The man is heavily armed, reported state broadcaster ORF quoting police. | The man is heavily armed, reported state broadcaster ORF quoting police. |
The suspect had been arrested during the night but escaped in a stolen police car, fleeing to his house. | The suspect had been arrested during the night but escaped in a stolen police car, fleeing to his house. |
Around 100 special forces officers are surrounding the property in the town of Melk, about 90km (55 miles) west of the capital Vienna, ORF reported. | |
Sporadic shots have been fired at officers, who have described the situation as "terrible and very explosive". | Sporadic shots have been fired at officers, who have described the situation as "terrible and very explosive". |
Police have so far failed to make contact with the gunman, ORF reported, adding that relatives of the suspect have been brought in to help. | Police have so far failed to make contact with the gunman, ORF reported, adding that relatives of the suspect have been brought in to help. |
Paramedic shot | |
Police tried to apprehend the suspect late on Monday after receiving information that he had been hunting illegally. | Police tried to apprehend the suspect late on Monday after receiving information that he had been hunting illegally. |
However, the man - said to be in his mid-50s - reportedly opened fire after driving into a ditch, injuring a police officer who later died in hospital. | However, the man - said to be in his mid-50s - reportedly opened fire after driving into a ditch, injuring a police officer who later died in hospital. |
A paramedic was shot dead as he tried to help the officer, and a second policeman was injured, reports said. | A paramedic was shot dead as he tried to help the officer, and a second policeman was injured, reports said. |
The gunman then fled on foot, killing a second police officer and taking a third hostage. | The gunman then fled on foot, killing a second police officer and taking a third hostage. |
He stole their police car and drove, with his captive, some 60km to his farmhouse. | He stole their police car and drove, with his captive, some 60km to his farmhouse. |
Officials later reported that they had discovered the body of the third policeman at the farm. | Officials later reported that they had discovered the body of the third policeman at the farm. |
A large section of the surrounding area has been cordoned off, with police in body armour and carrying machine-guns manning road-blocks. | A large section of the surrounding area has been cordoned off, with police in body armour and carrying machine-guns manning road-blocks. |
Armoured police vehicles have also been deployed. | Armoured police vehicles have also been deployed. |
An earlier information blackout was lifted after information was leaked by the media. | An earlier information blackout was lifted after information was leaked by the media. |