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At least 11 people – including children – have been killed during a school shooting in the Russian city of Kazan.
Children were seen leaping from third-floor windows in a desperate bid to escape the attack which local media said was carried out by two teenage gunmen.
Horrific videos showed young children covered in blood lying on the ground outside the building after they managed to escape. More than 30 children were wounded.
An explosion was also reported by terrified pupils who fled the carnage.
One 19-year-old suspect was detained, Russian news agency RIA reported, with footage showing a young man being pinned to the ground outside by a police officer.
But it was not clear whether there were more shooters still at large nor was it clear what the motive for the attack was.
A crowd of worried parents gathered outside the building this morning as firefighters were seen evacuating pupils by ladder from a top floor window.
One pupil said that they were ordered to lock their classroom doors by the headteacher over the loudspeaker system before they heard shooting erupt.
Terrified pupils were seen leaping out of third floor windows in a desperate bid to escape the carnage unfolding inside the school
Students are evacuated from the school in Kazan by ladder after shooting began
The aftermath of the shooting shows plaster, dust and wood scattered across the floors
Teachers and pupils were evacuated from the school by ladder
A large crowd gathered outside the school including worried parents as gunshots were heard in the neighbourhood
People are seen clambering down a ladder from a top floor window after the shooting erupted
A crowd, including concerned parents, is gathered outside the school as dozens of emergency vehicles arrived at the scene
The youngster told local media: ‘We were sitting on the third floor, we had a history lesson.
‘Suddenly, in the middle of the lesson, the headmistress starts shouting into the loud speaker so that no one would open their doors.
‘The class teacher quickly closed the door and literally five seconds later a big explosion went off, either on the first or on the second floor.
‘We stayed together and did not open the door to anyone, but they burst into it – shots were heard, banging on the door, as if someone was trying to knock it out.
‘After some time, we heard the riot police and the the deputy head shouted to us to open it.
‘Firefighters came in and took us out.
‘I don’t know who did the shooting, and nobody knows.
‘Some say they are terrorists, others say that they are eleventh graders.
‘I don’t know who they killed, but they killed the cleaner and the guard for sure – they tried to keep them out of the school.’
There were varying reports on the number of casualties, with one local paper saying that up to 32 children had been rushed to hospital.
One of the attackers is reported to have killed seven eighth graders – aged 13 to 14 – and a teacher.
When he was detained, he said that he had planted a bomb at the place he lives.
One of the gunmen was seen being overpowered by officers on the steps of the school on Faizi Street in the majority Muslim city.
Another remained in the school, said reports.
Later it was reported the second attacker had been detained by police on the fourth floor.
Around 20 ambulances were on the scene, including members of the security forces.
Local residents gathered outside the school gates after the shooting started
Fire engines and police cars arriving at the scene this morning
Emergency vehicles at the scene this morning
Kazan is the capital of mainly Muslim Tatarstan, an oil-rich region on the Volga River.
‘The prosecutor of the Republic of Tatarstan Ildus Nafikov left for the scene. The circumstances of the incident are being investigated,’ said an official.
School shootings are rare in Russia. One of the last major shootings of its kind took place in Russian-annexed Crimea in 2018 when a student at a college killed 19 before turning his gun on himself.
Kazan is the capital of the Muslim-majority region of Tatarstan and located around 450 miles east of Moscow.
