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| Austria police storm house after gunman shoots four dead | Austria police storm house after gunman shoots four dead |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Austrian special forces have stormed a farmhouse where a man suspected of killing three policemen and an emergency worker is holed up. | Austrian special forces have stormed a farmhouse where a man suspected of killing three policemen and an emergency worker is holed up. |
| A government spokesman said the house near Melk in Lower Austria was being searched but there is no word on the condition of the suspect. | A government spokesman said the house near Melk in Lower Austria was being searched but there is no word on the condition of the suspect. |
| The man is heavily armed, reported state broadcaster ORF quoting police. | The man is heavily armed, reported state broadcaster ORF quoting police. |
| The suspect, who has not been named, had earlier been arrested for poaching but escaped in a stolen police car. | The suspect, who has not been named, had earlier been arrested for poaching but escaped in a stolen police car. |
| He then fled to his house where he is believed to have a large number of weapons and ammunition. | |
| Around 100 special forces officers had been surrounding the property on the outskirts of Melk, about 90km (55 miles) west of the capital Vienna, ORF reported. | Around 100 special forces officers had been surrounding the property on the outskirts of Melk, about 90km (55 miles) west of the capital Vienna, ORF reported. |
| Sporadic shots were earlier fired at officers, who described the situation as "terrible and very explosive". | Sporadic shots were earlier fired at officers, who described the situation as "terrible and very explosive". |
| Police have so far failed to make contact with the gunman, ORF reported, adding that relatives of the suspect have been brought in to help. | Police have so far failed to make contact with the gunman, ORF reported, adding that relatives of the suspect have been brought in to help. |
| As darkness fell, officers from Austria's elite "Cobra" police unit started a search of the farmhouse and surrounding buildings, the Austria Press Agency reported. | |
| Paramedic shot | Paramedic shot |
| Police had tried to apprehend the suspect late on Monday after receiving information that he had been poaching. | Police had tried to apprehend the suspect late on Monday after receiving information that he had been poaching. |
| However, the man - said to be in his mid-50s - reportedly opened fire after driving into a ditch near the town of Annaberg, injuring a police officer who later died in hospital. | However, the man - said to be in his mid-50s - reportedly opened fire after driving into a ditch near the town of Annaberg, injuring a police officer who later died in hospital. |
| A paramedic was shot dead as he tried to help the officer, and a second policeman was injured, reports said. | A paramedic was shot dead as he tried to help the officer, and a second policeman was injured, reports said. |
| The gunman then fled on foot, killing a second police officer and taking a third hostage. | The gunman then fled on foot, killing a second police officer and taking a third hostage. |
| He stole their police car and drove, with his captive, some 60km to his farmhouse. | He stole their police car and drove, with his captive, some 60km to his farmhouse. |
| Officials later reported that they had discovered the body of the third policeman at the farm. | Officials later reported that they had discovered the body of the third policeman at the farm. |
| A large section of the surrounding area has been cordoned off, with police in body armour and carrying machine-guns manning road-blocks. | A large section of the surrounding area has been cordoned off, with police in body armour and carrying machine-guns manning road-blocks. |
| Armoured police vehicles have also been deployed. | Armoured police vehicles have also been deployed. |
| An earlier information blackout was lifted after information was leaked by the media. | An earlier information blackout was lifted after information was leaked by the media. |