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Austria police find body after siege | Austria police find body after siege |
(35 minutes later) | |
Austrian police have found a body they believe is a man suspected of shooting dead three policemen and a paramedic. | Austrian police have found a body they believe is a man suspected of shooting dead three policemen and a paramedic. |
The charred body was discovered at the farmhouse where he lived near Melk, Lower Austria, after special forces stormed the building. | The charred body was discovered at the farmhouse where he lived near Melk, Lower Austria, after special forces stormed the building. |
They searched the house for hours, as the suspect - named as Alois Huber, 55 - was reportedly heavily armed. | |
The drama began on Monday when officers tried to arrest the man on suspicion of poaching near the town of Annaberg. | The drama began on Monday when officers tried to arrest the man on suspicion of poaching near the town of Annaberg. |
'Secret room' | |
Police tried to stop his car, but the man reportedly opened fire after heading 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. | A paramedic was shot dead as he tried to help the officer, and a second policeman was injured. |
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, to his farmhouse, about 90km (55 miles) west of the capital Vienna. | He stole their police car and drove, with his captive, to his farmhouse, about 90km (55 miles) west of the capital Vienna. |
Officials later discovered the body of the third policeman at the farm. A large section of the area was cordoned off. | Officials later discovered the body of the third policeman at the farm. A large section of the area was cordoned off. |
About 100 special forces officers on armoured police vehicles were involved in the operation. | |
They eventually stormed the farmhouse after shots were fired at them. | |
The charred body was found in a "secret room" of the farmhouse, according to Austria's Krone newspaper. | |
Reports say that the suspect set himself on fire, but this has not been officially confirmed. | |
The BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna says there is a sense of shock in Austria. | |
Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner described the events as "unprecedented" in the history of the Austrian police. | |
She said the officers and the paramedic had "laid down their lives for our safety", expressing condolences to their families and colleagues. |