School shooting in Arizona: "We have become a Mecca of hatred"

Washington - The multiple murder of an apparently politically confused offender shaken the United States. A 22-year-old in the state of Arizona violated a congressman targeted by a shot in the head hard. At a gathering point at the politician he also shot and killed six people, including a little girl.

Twelve people were injured, according to the police, some of them seriously. The exact motives of the perpetrator, who was overpowered and is in custody are still unclear. Contrary to initial information includes the police does not mean that he had an accomplice. "There are reasons to assume that he and another man came here," said Sheriff Clarence Dupnik.


The gunman had struck down the 40-year-old Democratic Representative Gabrielle Giffords in a targeted assassination attempt with a semiautomatic pistol, said Dupnik. He was unstable, but not retarded. So far, the archer is talking with the police. Dupniks reportedly the shooter has a criminal and "problematic" past.

According to initial reports, offenders railed against the government on the internet and have called for a new U.S. currency. Moderate, but pugnacious Democrat Dupnik explicitly referred to the heated political atmosphere in Arizona: Such a climate could affect mentally unstable people.

"We are a mecca of hatred and prejudice have become," he said. The crime occurred on Saturday morning, as Giffords political supporters in a shopping center met in Tucson. "There were 15 to 20 shots fired," one eyewitness. The killer had shot the deputies at close range targeted in the head.

Then chaos broke out. According to the NPR radio stations was a passer-by to stop the shooter on the run and on the ground to hold on until he was arrested. Overtime the exact events were unclear: At times it was said that the deputy is dead Giffords is considered moderate, but militant Democrat, which is not always on the party line.

It was at odds with many fellow party members for a long time for the right to a firearm. It represents members of Congress since January 2007 as the southern U.S. state of Arizona. Since 2006 Member of the U.S. Congress, the deputy was immediately operated on and was, according to her doctors in a serious condition.

"I am optimistic about her recovery," said the doctor Peter Rhee. GP spoke of a smooth head penetration of the politician. Among the dead was also a magistrate and an assistant of the deputies. Obama spoke of an "unspeakable tragedy". Such a "senseless and horrific act of violence has no place in a free society," he said in a first written opinion.

"We will get to the bottom of the matter," said Obama, who was subsequently specifically before the cameras. Similarly shaken itself expressed the newly elected President of the House of Representatives, John Boehner, a member of the Republican. "This is a sad day for our country." The House of Representatives in Washington canceled all meetings in the coming week.

The senator from Arizona, John McCain, was "deeply saddened and shocked". The act was a "disgrace to Arizona, the country and humanity," said the Republican. Giffords sits since 2006 for Arizona in the U.S. Congress. She was then chosen as the first Jewish woman for Arizona House of Representatives and confirmed by-election in November in her office.

Giffords is married to the NASA astronaut Mark Kelly.

• "Pima County AZ Sheriff Clarence Dupnik Blames AZ Political Culture" and related posts (09/01/2011)
• Pima Sheriff Clarence Dupnik Calls Out Vitriolic, Hateful Rhetoric (09/01/2011)
• Sheriff: Shooter in custody, seeking person of interest (09/01/2011)
• Mekka Lekka Hi Mekka Douchey Ho! (15/11/2010)
• The Great State Hate of Arizona.... (08/01/2011)

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