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Jersey City: Deadly gun battle kills six people Jersey City: Deadly gun battle kills six people
(about 5 hours later)
A police officer and at least five other people have died in a series of "furious" gun battles in Jersey City, in the state of New Jersey. A police officer and at least five other people have died in a series of gun battles in Jersey City, in the US state of New Jersey.
Two other police officers were also wounded during the incident, which culminated in a shootout after gunmen barricaded themselves in a shop. Two other police officers were also wounded during the incident, which culminated in a shootout after two gunmen barricaded themselves in a shop.
Several local schools and businesses were also put on lockdown. Several local schools and businesses were also put on temporary lockdown.
A motive for the incident has not yet been established. Authorities say they do not believe it was a terror attack.A motive for the incident has not yet been established. Authorities say they do not believe it was a terror attack.
Authorities identified the police officer who died as Joseph Seals, 39, who was part of a programme to confiscate illegal weaponry in New Jersey. Authorities identified the police officer who died as Joseph Seals, 39, who was part of a state-wide programme to confiscate illegal weaponry.
Speaking to reporters, Jersey City Police Chief Mike Kelly said Mr Seals was a "leading police officer in removing guns from the street".Speaking to reporters, Jersey City Police Chief Mike Kelly said Mr Seals was a "leading police officer in removing guns from the street".
Mr Kelly said an exchange of gunfire first erupted at a local cemetery just after 12:00 local time (17:00 GMT). Mr Kelly said violence first erupted at a local cemetery just after 12:00 local time (17:00 GMT) on Tuesday. Local media reported that confrontation between police and the suspects was linked to a murder investigation, but this has not been confirmed by authorities.
It is believed that Mr Seals was killed while approaching the suspects. Police at the scene immediately came under "high-powered rifle fire," Mr Kelly told reporters, and it is believed that Mr Seals was killed while approaching the two suspects, who have not been publicly identified.
The pair fled the scene in a truck and took shelter in a nearby kosher supermarket where they continued to fire at police. The pair fled the scene in a van and took shelter in a kosher supermarket where they held off armed police and federal officials for four hours, shooting off hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Dozens of armed law enforcement officials, including Swat teams and federal agents, were deployed to the scene, and five people were killed in the shop - two are thought to be the suspected gunmen. Investigators believe the two gunmen killed three people in the shop before they were shot dead. At least one survivor from the shop is being treated for injuries.
Police said the suspects were armed with "high powered rifles" and fired "hundreds of rounds of ammunition" during the gun battle. Mr Kelly said investigators also believe the suspects' van contained an "incendiary device" which was removed and taken away for examination by police disposal specialists.
Mr Kelly said it is believed that three people in the shop were killed by the suspects, but stressed that all information was "preliminary" and an investigation would take time. "Based on what we now know, there are no ongoing threats to public safety that have any connections to today's events," New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy told reporters at a separate news conference.
At least one survivor from the business is being treated for injuries, and the van used by the suspects is being investigated by bomb disposal specialists. "This has been an incredibly tough day for Jersey City and the entire state of New Jersey," he added.