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Gun siege in Colorado high school Gun siege at Colorado high school
(10 minutes later)
Staff and pupils have been evacuated from a US high school in Bailey, Colorado, where an adult gunman has taken up to four hostages. Staff and pupils have been evacuated from a US high school in the US state of Colorado, where an adult gunman is believed to be holding two hostages.
A Swat team and bomb squad have been sent to Platte Canyon High School. There are no reports of casualties and negotiations appear to be under way. A Swat team and bomb squad have been sent to Platte Canyon High School, in the town of Bailey.
There are no reports of casualties and negotiations appear to be under way.
"We have some information that several shots have been fired," sheriff's spokeswoman Jacki Kelley said."We have some information that several shots have been fired," sheriff's spokeswoman Jacki Kelley said.
TV pictures show a long line of people streaming away towards school buses.TV pictures show a long line of people streaming away towards school buses.
A school official said a loud noise had prompted the evacuation. "Well, at this time there are some negotiations going on, there is some remaining hostages," Colorado State Patrol trooper Eric Wynn told BBC News 24.
"I don't know what the noise was," Jan Howard, a secretary to the superintendent of schools, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. "It is an adult gunman... there were shots fired, this happened in the afternoon."
According to reports, the gunman initially took as many as six people hostage before releasing all but two.
'Active shooter''Active shooter'
Snipers are moving into position around the site. The bomb squad was apparently called out after reports of a device inside the school.Snipers are moving into position around the site. The bomb squad was apparently called out after reports of a device inside the school.
US television channel ABC reports that the hostage-taker is "an active shooter".
The suspect apparently took six students hostage and let two of them go, the channel says.
Platte Canyon High and neighbouring Fitzsimmons Middle School have about 800 students enrolled between them.Platte Canyon High and neighbouring Fitzsimmons Middle School have about 800 students enrolled between them.
"The two schools have been in lockdown," an official in the Park County Sheriff's office told AFP news agency."The two schools have been in lockdown," an official in the Park County Sheriff's office told AFP news agency.
Bailey is 56km (35 miles) south-west of the state capital, Denver.Bailey is 56km (35 miles) south-west of the state capital, Denver.
It lies in Jefferson County where in 1999 two students killed 13 people at Columbine High School before taking their own lives. It lies in Jefferson County where in 1999, two students killed 13 people at Columbine High School before taking their own lives.


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