The number of people reported killed in a shooting at a Russian school rose to 15 on Monday. This was announced by the national investigative committee in new information. 11 children were among the dead. The perpetrator also killed himself, according to the authorities.
There had previously been talk of 13 dead, including at least two teachers and two security guards. The Interior Ministry of the Udmurt Republic initially spoke of 6 dead and 20 injured in the city of Izhevsk in the morning.
The investigating authority also announced that there were 24 injured, including 22 children. “In Udmurtia today there was a tragedy in Izhevsk at school 88. A person who has not yet been identified broke into the school and killed a security guard, that is already known,” Governor Alexander Brechalov said shortly after the crime. “There are child casualties and injuries.” The Kremlin has described the fatal shooting in a Russian school as an “act of terrorism”. “President (Vladimir) Putin is deeply saddened by the deaths of people, children at the school where the terrorist act took place,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The attack on the school in Izhevsk is said to have killed 13 people. Among them are seven children and six adults, according to the authorities. The perpetrator killed himself, it was said.
The 34-year-old perpetrator was a student there himself
In the afternoon, the investigators also named the man’s identity, saying it was a 34-year-old who was once a student there. Kremlin spokesman Peskov said he “appeared to belong to a neo-fascist organization or group.” Investigators said the man was wearing a black T-shirt with Nazi symbols and a balaclava.
In Russia, there have already been multiple rampages at educational institutions, resulting in deaths and injuries. This had sparked debates about tightening gun controls. In May last year, a 19-year-old killed nine people in a school in the Russian republic of Tatarstan. Even then, most of the victims in the city of Kazan were children. The man was arrested for murder and is in custody. (dpa)
