A gunman has stormed through a shopping centre in the US state of Nebraska, killing eight people before turning the gun on himself, police say.
A gunman has stormed through a shopping centre in the US state of Nebraska, killing eight people before fatally shooting himself, police say.
A further five people were wounded - two critically - in the shooting at the Westroads Mall in Omaha.
A further five people were wounded - two critically - in the shooting at the Westroads Mall in Omaha.
Police were called to the incident at lunchtime, when the centre would have been packed with Christmas shoppers.
Police were called to the incident at lunchtime, when the centre would have been packed with Christmas shoppers.
Police sealed the exits and emergency workers were seen ferrying stretchers into the building.
Police sealed the exits and emergency workers were seen ferrying stretchers into the building.
'Bleeding'
'Bleeding'
There have been differing accounts of exactly where the shooting took place.
Police were called to the centre at about 1400 local time (2000 GMT), after receiving a call from inside, said Sgt Teresa Negron.
Some witnesses said it happened inside the upscale Von Maur department store, inside the shopping centre. Others said the gunman was positioned on a balcony.
The incident is said to have taken place inside the upscale Von Maur department store, inside the shopping centre. At least some of the shots were fired from a balcony, police said.
"We heard about 35, 40 shots, and on our way we did see someone down by the escalator, bleeding," witness Jennifer Cramer told local media, according to news agency AFP.
"We heard about 35, 40 shots, and on our way we did see someone down by the escalator, bleeding," witness Jennifer Cramer told local media, according to news agency AFP.
"I went around and then I saw the guy in the children's department," another woman who witnessed the attack said.
One woman said she had seen the gunman on the attack.
"I went around and then I saw the guy in the children's department," she said.
"Big tall guy, real tall and he just stood there with his arm like this, his hand straight up in the air, shooting. And then I turned and ran."
"Big tall guy, real tall and he just stood there with his arm like this, his hand straight up in the air, shooting. And then I turned and ran."
A worker from another shop said customers and employees were huddled in a storeroom.
Several witnesses spoke of barricading themselves away in stockrooms until the police arrived.
"All we know was people were running and screaming down the hallway by Von Maur saying there was a shooting, and then [police] locked us down," she said
One employee at the centre said she had been in the wrapping department.
"We heard this 'pop pop pop', and... someone came running and said 'gun!', and so we all flew in the back, way in the back of the store where they keep the cleaning supplies, and we hid back there, and then finally we heard 'Omaha Police! Come out with your hands up!'"
Critical condition
Critical condition
Police Sgt Teresa Negron told a news conference she could confirm nine deaths, including the gunman.
Sgt Negron told a news conference she could confirm nine deaths, including the gunman.
"We have two people that are still in critical condition and three that have gunshot wounds."
"We have two people that are still in critical condition and three that have gunshot wounds."
The gunman's name was not released.
The gunman's name was not released, though local media reports, quoting police officials, say a suicide note has been found.
According to the Westroads Mall website, it is the largest shopping centre in Nebraska, with more than 135 shops and restaurants.
According to the Westroads Mall website, it is the largest shopping centre in Nebraska, with more than 135 shops and restaurants.
Earlier in the day, President George W Bush had been in Omaha for a fundraiser, but he left the city before the shooting occurred.
Earlier in the day, President George W Bush had been in Omaha for a fundraiser, but he left the city before the shooting occurred.
In an email to the BBC, Spencer Rice said he saw police cars travelling in the direction of the shopping centre after finishing lessons at the University of Nebraska.
"It is a tragedy anywhere, but when something like it happens in your city, near your life, it is numbing," he said.
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