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At least 8 children, one teacher killed in mass shooting at Russia school

A teenager was detained after the attack at the school, located 820km east of Moscow in the mainly Muslim republic of Tatarstan.

Staff Writers
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In this image taken from video, an ambulance and police trucks are parked at a school after a shooting, in Kazan, Russia. Photo: AP
In this image taken from video, an ambulance and police trucks are parked at a school after a shooting, in Kazan, Russia. Photo: AP

At least eight schoolchildren and a teacher have been killed in a shooting at a school in the Russian city of Kazan, says the BBC.

Reports of the number of deaths varied, but officials have confirmed at least eight children were killed. Many more were wounded and taken to hospital.

Witnesses told state media that there had been an explosion before the shooting began, although it was not immediately clear what caused the blast. “There is heavy smoke,” an emergency services source told TASS.

A teenager was detained after the attack at the school, located 820km east of Moscow in the mainly Muslim republic of Tatarstan.

Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov described the shooting as a “tragedy”.

Responding to the attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would review Russia’s gun control laws.

The shooting happened at School No. 175 on Tuesday. Heavily armed police and emergency vehicles responded to the incident.

Footage shared on social media showed some children jumping from windows to escape. Russian TV reported that two of the children died after jumping from a second-floor window.

Reports initially said that there were two gunmen, one of whom had been killed, but officials later said there was only one suspect.

Minnikhanov said the victims included four male and three female eighth-grade students. His press service later added that a teacher was also killed.

He told reporters outside the school that in addition to the fatalities, 12 children and four adults were being treated in hospital.

“The terrorist has been arrested. He’s 19. He’s a registered firearm owner,” he said.

One video on social media captured a teenager lying on the ground apparently being detained outside the building.

While school shootings are relatively rare in Russia, there have been several violent attacks on schools in recent years, mostly carried out by students, says the AP.