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United States: Maryland newsroom shooting was 'targeted attack', say police

United States: Maryland newsroom shooting was 'targeted attack', say police

Maryland newsroom shooting

Story highlights

A leading American news channel was informed that the suspect was a male in his 20s with no identification on him

According to the local police, newsroom shooting in the US city of Annapolis on Thursday was a 'targeted attack'. Five people have been reported killed in a shooting that was carried out by a man in Maryland on Thursday.

A man brandishing a long gun walked into the office of a small newspaper called Capital Gazette in Maryland on Thursday and killed at least five people in an attack that led police to beef up security at media outlets in other cities as a precaution, Reuters reported.

According to an AFP report, the attack followed a seriesof online threats received by the media organisation.

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"This was a targeted attack on the Capital Gazette," Bill Krampf, acting police chief of Anne Arundel county, told reporters.

He added that police did not yet know the shooter's motive but added: "We know there were threats sent to the Capital Gazette over social media. We're trying to confirm what account it was and who sent them."

A leading American news channel was informed that the suspect was a male in his 20s with no identification on him.

The suspect and the victims have not been identified by the authorities. The name of the suspect along with other details will be released at a later time, Anne Arundel County police said on Twitter.

Capital Gazette publishes a stable of newspapers in and around Annapolis, United States.

United States President Donald Trump condemned the attack and tweeted out saying that his "thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families".

"Prior to departing Wisconsin, I was briefed on the shooting at Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. Thank you to all of the First Responders who are currently on the scene," read his tweet.

(With inputs from agencies)