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Liege attack: Belgian police find body in killer's shed | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Police in Belgium have discovered a woman's body in a shed belonging to a gunman who went on the rampage in Liege, killing four people and himself. | |
The body was found with a bullet wound to the head, say Belgian justice officials. | |
Nordine Amrani launched his attack with guns and hand grenades in a busy marketplace in Liege on Tuesday, causing panic among Christmas shoppers. | |
About 125 people were wounded, five of whom are in intensive care. | |
The body found at the killer's property was that of a cleaner, reported to be 45 years old, who worked for one of Amrani's neighbours. | |
Also found in the shed were two weapons and a stockpile of ammunition, the public prosecutor, Daniele Reynders, told a news conference. | |
No message has been found from the attacker, she said. | |
Officials say the shed was used by Amrani to grow cannabis. | |
The authorities are trying to determine what motivated Amrani to go on his killing spree. | |
Police have said he was known to them for previous drugs and firearms offences and acted alone in the attack. | Police have said he was known to them for previous drugs and firearms offences and acted alone in the attack. |
Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo said it had been "an isolated case". | Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo said it had been "an isolated case". |
The city is to hold a minute's silence and a vigil at midday on Wednesday, the AFP news agency reports. | The city is to hold a minute's silence and a vigil at midday on Wednesday, the AFP news agency reports. |
A 17-month-old girl became the fourth victim late on Tuesday, dying in hospital despite undergoing hours of emergency treatment. | A 17-month-old girl became the fourth victim late on Tuesday, dying in hospital despite undergoing hours of emergency treatment. |
Belgium's Home Affairs Minister Joelle Milquet said four people remained in a critical condition. | Belgium's Home Affairs Minister Joelle Milquet said four people remained in a critical condition. |
Warnings missed? | Warnings missed? |
The BBC's Matthew Price, in Liege, says the central Place Saint-Lambert, where the attack took place, has been reopened to the public, but blood stains, shattered glass and bullet marks remain. | |
Officials have ruled out organised political terrorism or a known mental illness as Amrani's motives but have yet to determine why he opened fire. | Officials have ruled out organised political terrorism or a known mental illness as Amrani's motives but have yet to determine why he opened fire. |
They will now need to examine whether there was anything to indicate in advance that he might have posed a danger to the public, says our correspondent. | They will now need to examine whether there was anything to indicate in advance that he might have posed a danger to the public, says our correspondent. |
Amrani, a resident of Liege, had been jailed for 58 months in September 2008 for possessing firearms and drugs, media reports said. | Amrani, a resident of Liege, had been jailed for 58 months in September 2008 for possessing firearms and drugs, media reports said. |
Officials did not confirm this, but said they were aware he had spent some time in prison. | Officials did not confirm this, but said they were aware he had spent some time in prison. |
"At no moment in any of the judicial proceedings against him was there a sign of unbalance," Daniele Reynders, the public prosecutor for Liege, told reporters. | "At no moment in any of the judicial proceedings against him was there a sign of unbalance," Daniele Reynders, the public prosecutor for Liege, told reporters. |
Amrani is reported to have been on parole and on Tuesday had been asked to attend a police station for an interview in connection with charges against him. | |
Instead, he took an assault rifle, revolver and hand grenades into the busy town centre square, close to the courthouse. | Instead, he took an assault rifle, revolver and hand grenades into the busy town centre square, close to the courthouse. |
At about midday, he threw three grenades at people waiting for buses then opened fire, sending hundreds of people fleeing in panic. | |
"He wanted to hurt as many people as possible," journalist Nicolas Gilenne told AFP. "I heard four explosions and shots during about 10 seconds." | "He wanted to hurt as many people as possible," journalist Nicolas Gilenne told AFP. "I heard four explosions and shots during about 10 seconds." |
A 15-year-old boy died instantly, while a 17-year-old boy and a 75-year-old woman died later in hospital. | A 15-year-old boy died instantly, while a 17-year-old boy and a 75-year-old woman died later in hospital. |
One official told AFP that a Christmas market was meant to be taking place in the square that day but its opening had been postponed because of bad weather. | One official told AFP that a Christmas market was meant to be taking place in the square that day but its opening had been postponed because of bad weather. |
"Otherwise many more would have died," said the official. | "Otherwise many more would have died," said the official. |
Amrani died at the scene, but officials said he had not been shot by police. Some witnesses said he had shot himself in the head. | Amrani died at the scene, but officials said he had not been shot by police. Some witnesses said he had shot himself in the head. |
Mr Di Rupo, who has only been in office since last week, said there were "no words to describe this tragedy". | |
"The whole country shares the pain of the families affected. We share the shock of the population," he said as he visited the square. | "The whole country shares the pain of the families affected. We share the shock of the population," he said as he visited the square. |
But he said: "This is an isolated case. This is not about terrorism." | But he said: "This is an isolated case. This is not about terrorism." |
Belgium's King Albert and Queen Paola II also visited Place Saint-Lambert on Tuesday evening to pay their respects. | Belgium's King Albert and Queen Paola II also visited Place Saint-Lambert on Tuesday evening to pay their respects. |
Liege's mayor Willy Demeyer, said the attack had "sown sorrow in the heart of the city". | Liege's mayor Willy Demeyer, said the attack had "sown sorrow in the heart of the city". |
Are you in Liege? Did you witness anything? Have you been affected by the attack? Send us your comments and experiences. | Are you in Liege? Did you witness anything? Have you been affected by the attack? Send us your comments and experiences. |