US shoppers killed in gun rampage

A gunman has opened fire in a shopping centre in the US state of Nebraska, killing eight people before fatally shooting himself, police say.

A further five people were wounded - two critically - in the shooting at the Westroads Mall in Omaha.

Police were called to the incident at lunchtime, when the centre would have been packed with Christmas shoppers.

Witnesses spoke of shoppers screaming and scrambling to find safe shelter as the gunman struck.

In a statement, the White House said President George W Bush - who visited Omaha earlier in the day for a fundraiser - said he was "deeply saddened" by the shootings.

'Bleeding'

Police were called to the centre at about 1400 local time (2000 GMT), after receiving a call from inside, said Sgt Teresa Negron.

We heard this "pop pop pop", and someone came running and said "gun!" Employee In pictures: Omaha shootings

The incident is said to have taken place inside the upscale Von Maur department store, inside the shopping centre. At least some of the shots were fired from an interior balcony overlooking an atrium, police said.

"We heard about 35, 40 shots, and on our way we did see someone down by the escalator, bleeding," witness Jennifer Cramer told local media, according to news agency AFP.

Barricaded in

One woman said she had seen the gunman on the attack.

"I went around and then I saw the guy in the children's department," she said.

Witnesses spoke of trying to hide as they waited for police

"Big tall guy, real tall and he just stood there with his arm like this, his hand straight up in the air, shooting. And then I turned and ran."

Several witnesses spoke of barricading themselves away in stockrooms until the police arrived.

One employee at the centre said she had been in the wrapping department.

"We heard this 'pop pop pop', and... someone came running and said 'gun!', and so we all flew in the back, way in the back of the store where they keep the cleaning supplies, and we hid back there, and then finally we heard 'Omaha police! Come out with your hands up!'"

In an email to the BBC, Chelsea Bartholomew told how she arrived at the shopping centre as people were fleeing the scene:

"Two of my friends and I were just about to enter Westroads as police began blocking off the doors. Police cars and ambulances were flocking to the scene in droves.

"We attempted to ask a woman exiting the mall what was going on, but she ran by us, screaming, as though we weren't even there."

Note

Sgt Negron told a news conference she could confirm nine deaths, including the gunman. She said five people had been injured, two in critical condition.

"We do not believe that we have any other shooter," she told reporters, according to Reuters news agency.

"The person we believe to be the shooter has died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound."

The gunman's name was not released, though local media reports, quoting police officials, say a suicide note has been found.

According to the Westroads Mall website, it is the largest shopping centre in Nebraska, with more than 135 shops and restaurants.

Mr Bush was in Omaha earlier, but he left the city before the shooting occurred.

"Having just visited with so many members of the community in Omaha today, the president is confident that they will pull together to comfort one another as they deal with this terrible tragedy," the White House said in a statement.

In an email to the BBC, Spencer Rice said he saw police cars travelling in the direction of the shopping centre after finishing lessons at the University of Nebraska.

"It is a tragedy anywhere, but when something like it happens in your city, near your life, it is numbing," he said.