Technologic
03-04-2009, 06:24 PM
About 40 people have been taken hostage and several others shot in the US state of New York, say reports.
Unconfirmed local media reports said a number of people have been killed during the incident.
The hostages were in the buildings of the American Civic Association (ACA) in Binghamton, north of New York City, when the gunman entered.
Police are reported to have entered the building and taken away two people. Some hostages have now been released.
"About 15 or so employees of the Civic Association came out crying with their hands behind their heads and they were escorted by the police," one witness told the Binghamton's WNBF Radio.
See map of the area
Television footage showed four people being carried from the scene on stretchers. Their condition was not known.
The Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin said homes nearby were being evacuated and a police commando unit was at the scene.
RECENT US SHOOTINGS
March 2009: A gunman kills a total of 11 people in a series of shootings southern Alabama
Dec 2008: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus kills nine people and himself on Christmas Eve in LA
Sept 2008: Six people die in a series of shootings in the north-west of Washington state
June 2008: A worker at a plastics plant in Kentucky kills five people before killing himself
Apr 2007: 32 people and the gunman die at the Virginia Tech campus
In pictures: NY state hostage
It said apartments and a nearby school and care home were under lockdown and some streets had been sealed off.
Eyewitness reported seeing a man of Asian appearance in his 20s entering the building.
He was described by local media as being 1.6m to 1.8m (5ft 8in to 6ft) and wearing a bright green nylon jacket and dark-rimmed glasses.
Mayor Matthew Ryan told reporters the gunman was carrying a high-powered rifle.
A spokeswoman at a local hospital said at least one person was being treated for unspecified injuries.
"We're on full alert anticipating we're going to get additional casualties," said Linda Miller at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.
The ACA says on its website that it assists immigrants and refugees with personal and immigration counselling.
Bob Joseph of WNBF Radio told the BBC the town had never experienced an incident on such a scale before.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7982444.stm
Unconfirmed local media reports said a number of people have been killed during the incident.
The hostages were in the buildings of the American Civic Association (ACA) in Binghamton, north of New York City, when the gunman entered.
Police are reported to have entered the building and taken away two people. Some hostages have now been released.
"About 15 or so employees of the Civic Association came out crying with their hands behind their heads and they were escorted by the police," one witness told the Binghamton's WNBF Radio.
See map of the area
Television footage showed four people being carried from the scene on stretchers. Their condition was not known.
The Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin said homes nearby were being evacuated and a police commando unit was at the scene.
RECENT US SHOOTINGS
March 2009: A gunman kills a total of 11 people in a series of shootings southern Alabama
Dec 2008: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus kills nine people and himself on Christmas Eve in LA
Sept 2008: Six people die in a series of shootings in the north-west of Washington state
June 2008: A worker at a plastics plant in Kentucky kills five people before killing himself
Apr 2007: 32 people and the gunman die at the Virginia Tech campus
In pictures: NY state hostage
It said apartments and a nearby school and care home were under lockdown and some streets had been sealed off.
Eyewitness reported seeing a man of Asian appearance in his 20s entering the building.
He was described by local media as being 1.6m to 1.8m (5ft 8in to 6ft) and wearing a bright green nylon jacket and dark-rimmed glasses.
Mayor Matthew Ryan told reporters the gunman was carrying a high-powered rifle.
A spokeswoman at a local hospital said at least one person was being treated for unspecified injuries.
"We're on full alert anticipating we're going to get additional casualties," said Linda Miller at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.
The ACA says on its website that it assists immigrants and refugees with personal and immigration counselling.
Bob Joseph of WNBF Radio told the BBC the town had never experienced an incident on such a scale before.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7982444.stm