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Community Forum · Est. 2006
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05-13-2009, 10:44 PM
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Aftermath 13 People Killed in Azerbaijani School Shooting: April 30th, 2009
MOSCOW, April 30 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 people were killed in a shooting Thursday at a university in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, Russian news agencies reported. The gunman injured another 13 people in the shooting spree, latest reports from the Itar-Tass news agency said. The gunman was reported to have killed a security guard and cleaner after entering the academy and continued shooting randomly at students and staff with a handgun while going upstairs of the academy building, the RIA Novosti news agency said. "The incident occurred at 09:30 local time (0430 GMT) on Thursday. An unidentified gunman armed with a Makarov pistol broke into the academy's building and started shooting at everyone he met," the Itar-Tass reported, citing an official statement from the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry and the Prosecutor General's Office. A police officer said the attacker climbed to the sixth floor and shot himself in one of the classrooms there. "The armed criminal understood he has no way for retreat and committed suicide," said the official statement. It is still unclear whether he was among the 13 victims. Police found on the dead killer a Georgian passport for Ferdy Gadirov, allegedly born in 1980, a Makarov handgun and 3 cartridge clips. Earlier, the killer was identified by local ANS television channel as Nadir Shirhanoglu, a Georgian citizen of Azeri origin, according to Russia's Interfax news agency. So far 13 casualties have been identified, including two foreigners from Sudan, one from Syria. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has expressed condolences to the families of the victims. "I express deep, unlimited sorrow over the tragedy. Sharing your endless grief on this hard day for you, I wish you patience and tenacity. Be sure that the Azerbaijani state will take all necessary measures over this incident," the Itar-Tass quoted the president as saying in a message of condolences. Aliyev has personally taken charge of the investigation into the shooting, said the statement. The shooting may be caused by a conflict between Azerbaijani and foreign students at the college, according to the Baku news agency APA. The academy is a major international center training oil industry specialists. Source: 13 killed in Azerbaijani school shooting_English_Xinhua |