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| Six die in attack on US council | Six die in attack on US council |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A gunman has opened fire on a council meeting in the US city of St Louis, Missouri, killing five people before being shot dead, authorities have said. | A gunman has opened fire on a council meeting in the US city of St Louis, Missouri, killing five people before being shot dead, authorities have said. |
| The gunman reportedly entered shouting "shoot the mayor" and killed two policemen and three others before police shot him. | The gunman reportedly entered shouting "shoot the mayor" and killed two policemen and three others before police shot him. |
| The building in the suburb of Kirkwood has been cordoned off. | The building in the suburb of Kirkwood has been cordoned off. |
| Around 30 people were at the council meeting. The mayor was reportedly shot and wounded. | Around 30 people were at the council meeting. The mayor was reportedly shot and wounded. |
| Missouri Governor Matt Blunt condemned the "senseless and horrific crime at an open government meeting". | |
| "I join Missourians tonight in praying for the victims, their families and friends and everyone in the community of Kirkwood," he said. | |
| Fought back | Fought back |
| Police said one officer was killed outside City Hall and another inside. | Police said one officer was killed outside City Hall and another inside. |
| I laid on my stomach waiting to get shot Janet McNichols,St Louis Post-Dispatch | I laid on my stomach waiting to get shot Janet McNichols,St Louis Post-Dispatch |
| "He shot three other people who were attending the council meeting. They also are deceased," St Louis county police spokeswoman Tracy Panus said. | "He shot three other people who were attending the council meeting. They also are deceased," St Louis county police spokeswoman Tracy Panus said. |
| The St Louis Post-Dispatch said the gunman was "not a stranger to the council, where he was often a contentious presence". | The St Louis Post-Dispatch said the gunman was "not a stranger to the council, where he was often a contentious presence". |
| The paper's correspondent, Janet McNichols, who was at the meeting, said: "He came from the back of the room. He kept [saying] something about, 'Shoot the mayor' and he just walked around shooting anybody he could." | The paper's correspondent, Janet McNichols, who was at the meeting, said: "He came from the back of the room. He kept [saying] something about, 'Shoot the mayor' and he just walked around shooting anybody he could." |
| She said she saw a police officer and an official shot in the head. | She said she saw a police officer and an official shot in the head. |
| "After that, I was on my stomach under the chairs," Ms McNichols said. "I laid on my stomach waiting to get shot." | "After that, I was on my stomach under the chairs," Ms McNichols said. "I laid on my stomach waiting to get shot." |
| Ms McNichols said the gunman also fired at the city's attorney, who fought back by throwing chairs. | Ms McNichols said the gunman also fired at the city's attorney, who fought back by throwing chairs. |
| The gunman then went behind the council's desk and continued to fire, she reported. | The gunman then went behind the council's desk and continued to fire, she reported. |
| Kirkwood is about 20 miles (32km) south-west of central St Louis. | Kirkwood is about 20 miles (32km) south-west of central St Louis. |