World

Five dead in Illinois workplace attack

February 16, 2019 12:59 pm

[Source: CNN]

Five people have been killed and several others injured after a gunman opened fire at an industrial park in Illinois, police say.

The gunman was also killed, a police spokesman said. He added that the five officers had been hit by gunfire.

The attack on Friday took place in Aurora, a suburb about 40 miles (65km) west of Chicago.

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It comes a day after the first anniversary of a school shooting in Parkland, Florida, which left 17 dead.

Police reported an “active shooter” in Aurora at about 14:00 local time (20:00 GMT) and then about an hour later they said the situation was under control.

The shooting is reported to have happened at Henry Pratt Company, a manufacturing firm that makes valves for large water pipes.

Police named the gunman as Gary Martin, 45, who they said was an employee at the company.

Bill Donnell, an elected official in Aurora, told CNN that a number of civilians had been wounded in the shooting.