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Seven killed in Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting | Seven killed in Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting |
(40 minutes later) | |
At least seven people, including a gunman, have died in a shooting at a Sikh temple in the US state of Wisconsin, police say. | |
The attacker "ambushed" a policeman at the scene, shooting him multiple times, before a second officer returned fire, killing the gunman, said authorities. | The attacker "ambushed" a policeman at the scene, shooting him multiple times, before a second officer returned fire, killing the gunman, said authorities. |
The shot officer was among three men critically injured in the attack at the town of Oak Creek. | |
Tactical police teams have cleared the building. | Tactical police teams have cleared the building. |
Police say it does not appear that there was more than one shooter, as witnesses initially thought. | |
'Terrorist-type incident' | 'Terrorist-type incident' |
President Barack Obama spoke of his sadness at the shooting, as he did after the gun massacre that left 12 dead at a Colorado cinema just over two weeks ago. | President Barack Obama spoke of his sadness at the shooting, as he did after the gun massacre that left 12 dead at a Colorado cinema just over two weeks ago. |
At a press conference, Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards said they were treating the attack as a "domestic terrorist-type incident", and that the FBI would take over the criminal investigation. | At a press conference, Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards said they were treating the attack as a "domestic terrorist-type incident", and that the FBI would take over the criminal investigation. |
At least two reports earlier from inside the temple, or gurdwara, suggested the perpetrator was a white male. | At least two reports earlier from inside the temple, or gurdwara, suggested the perpetrator was a white male. |
The authorities said calls had been made to the emergency services at about 10:25 local time (15:25 GMT) on Sunday. | |
Four people were dead inside the temple and three outside - including the gunman, said the authorities. | Four people were dead inside the temple and three outside - including the gunman, said the authorities. |
"The best information is that there was only one gunman," said Chief Edwards. | "The best information is that there was only one gunman," said Chief Edwards. |
At least three critically wounded men were being treated at Milwaukee's Froedtert Hospital, said officials at that facility. | At least three critically wounded men were being treated at Milwaukee's Froedtert Hospital, said officials at that facility. |
They included the police officer who had been shot multiple times, although he was expected to survive, said Chief Edwards. | |
'Hiding in closets' | 'Hiding in closets' |
Oak Creek is a town of about 30,000 people in the south-east corner of the state. | Oak Creek is a town of about 30,000 people in the south-east corner of the state. |
The website for the temple says it opened in 1999 and now has a congregation of 350-400. Sunday morning was the busiest time of worship, members of the congregation said. | The website for the temple says it opened in 1999 and now has a congregation of 350-400. Sunday morning was the busiest time of worship, members of the congregation said. |
Sukhwindar Nagr told the Associated Press news agency he had called his brother-in-law's phone. A priest at the temple answered and told him that his brother-in-law had been shot, along with three priests. | Sukhwindar Nagr told the Associated Press news agency he had called his brother-in-law's phone. A priest at the temple answered and told him that his brother-in-law had been shot, along with three priests. |
The priest also said women and children had been hiding in closets in the temple, Mr Nagr added. | The priest also said women and children had been hiding in closets in the temple, Mr Nagr added. |
Suni Singh told Newsradio 620 WTMJ that he had spoken to a friend inside the temple at the time. | Suni Singh told Newsradio 620 WTMJ that he had spoken to a friend inside the temple at the time. |
"My friend called and said, 'I heard the shot, and two people falling down in the parking lot.' He saw the shooter reloading the gun," Mr Singh said. | "My friend called and said, 'I heard the shot, and two people falling down in the parking lot.' He saw the shooter reloading the gun," Mr Singh said. |
Parminder Kaleka, who was waiting outside the temple, told the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel that she had phoned her brother-in-law - who she said was a priest at the temple. | Parminder Kaleka, who was waiting outside the temple, told the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel that she had phoned her brother-in-law - who she said was a priest at the temple. |
"He told me 25 or more people got shot. At that time they don't even know if they are dead or alive, so a lot of people got injured." | |
She said distraught families had been gathered outside the temple waiting for news. | She said distraught families had been gathered outside the temple waiting for news. |
"This is a big tragedy for our church," she said tearfully, adding that everyone had always assumed it would be a place of safety. | "This is a big tragedy for our church," she said tearfully, adding that everyone had always assumed it would be a place of safety. |
There are an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 Sikhs in the US, where they have sometimes been confused with Muslims. | |
In Sept 2001, an Arizona gas station owner, Balbir Singh Sodhi, was shot dead by a man said to be seeking revenge on Muslims for 9/11. | |
President Obama said he was "deeply saddened" by Sunday's incident. | |
"Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who were killed and wounded," he said in statement released by the White House. | "Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who were killed and wounded," he said in statement released by the White House. |
"As we mourn this loss which took place at a house of worship, we are reminded how much our country has been enriched by Sikhs, who are a part of our broader American family." | "As we mourn this loss which took place at a house of worship, we are reminded how much our country has been enriched by Sikhs, who are a part of our broader American family." |
Local politician Mark Honadel called the attack "craziness". | Local politician Mark Honadel called the attack "craziness". |
The state representative told CNN: "Unfortunately, when this type of stuff hits your area, you say to yourself, 'why?' But in today's society, I don't think there's any place that's free from idiots." | The state representative told CNN: "Unfortunately, when this type of stuff hits your area, you say to yourself, 'why?' But in today's society, I don't think there's any place that's free from idiots." |
Are you in Oak Creek? Did you witness the incident? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC please use the form below. | Are you in Oak Creek? Did you witness the incident? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC please use the form below. |