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17/04/2007
Police name university gunman
Police have confirmed the identity of the man responsible for the worst school shooting in US history.
Cho Seung-Hui, a 23-year-old from South Korea and a legal resident of the US, shot dead 32 people at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia on Monday, before killing himself.
The shootings occurred in two separate locations at the university. The first took place at 7:15am local time (12:15GMT) at the West Ambler Johnston Hall dormitory, when a man and a woman were shot.
The second shooting took place two hours later at several different classrooms in Norris Hall, about half a mile from the scene of the first shooting.
Thirty people were killed and fifteen others were injured in this incident.
It is understood that some of those injured leapt from second-floor windows in order to escape being shot.
The motive for the killings is not yet known, although Cho is reported to have had a row with his girlfriend in a dormitory prior to the shootings.
Police confirmed that they recovered two handguns from the scene of the second shooting - a 22mm weapon and a 9mm pistol which was used in both shootings.
However, it has been reported that police have not ruled out the involvement of a second gunman.
Some students have reacted angrily to the fact that they were not warned of any danger on the campus until two hours after the first shooting, which was also issued via e-mail.
However, university president Charles Steger defended the decision, saying that they believed the first shooting was an isolated "domestic" incident.
Names of the victims have begun to emerge unofficially. The dead are believed to include at least two university professors.
Police said that they would not name all the victims of the shootings until they had been identified and next of kin had been informed.
A memorial service is due to be held at Virginia Tech later on Tuesday. US President George Bush and his wife Laura are expected to attend.
Classes at the university have been suspended for the rest of the week, while Norris Hall is reported to be remaining closed for the rest of the term.
Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed "profound sadness" at the "terrible loss of innocent lives" in the shootings.
Speaking at his monthly new conference at Downing Street, Mr Blair said: "I would like to express, on behalf of Britain and the British people, our profound sadness at what has happened and to send the American people, and most especially of course the families of the victims, our sympathy and our prayers."
A statement issued by Buckingham Palace on Monday evening also said that the Queen was "shocked and saddened" by the shootings.
(KMcA/JM)
Cho Seung-Hui, a 23-year-old from South Korea and a legal resident of the US, shot dead 32 people at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia on Monday, before killing himself.
The shootings occurred in two separate locations at the university. The first took place at 7:15am local time (12:15GMT) at the West Ambler Johnston Hall dormitory, when a man and a woman were shot.
The second shooting took place two hours later at several different classrooms in Norris Hall, about half a mile from the scene of the first shooting.
Thirty people were killed and fifteen others were injured in this incident.
It is understood that some of those injured leapt from second-floor windows in order to escape being shot.
The motive for the killings is not yet known, although Cho is reported to have had a row with his girlfriend in a dormitory prior to the shootings.
Police confirmed that they recovered two handguns from the scene of the second shooting - a 22mm weapon and a 9mm pistol which was used in both shootings.
However, it has been reported that police have not ruled out the involvement of a second gunman.
Some students have reacted angrily to the fact that they were not warned of any danger on the campus until two hours after the first shooting, which was also issued via e-mail.
However, university president Charles Steger defended the decision, saying that they believed the first shooting was an isolated "domestic" incident.
Names of the victims have begun to emerge unofficially. The dead are believed to include at least two university professors.
Police said that they would not name all the victims of the shootings until they had been identified and next of kin had been informed.
A memorial service is due to be held at Virginia Tech later on Tuesday. US President George Bush and his wife Laura are expected to attend.
Classes at the university have been suspended for the rest of the week, while Norris Hall is reported to be remaining closed for the rest of the term.
Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed "profound sadness" at the "terrible loss of innocent lives" in the shootings.
Speaking at his monthly new conference at Downing Street, Mr Blair said: "I would like to express, on behalf of Britain and the British people, our profound sadness at what has happened and to send the American people, and most especially of course the families of the victims, our sympathy and our prayers."
A statement issued by Buckingham Palace on Monday evening also said that the Queen was "shocked and saddened" by the shootings.
(KMcA/JM)
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