Jen Thomas
A local man has shared his horror at hearing the school shooting in Minneapolis which has injured at least 20 people.
He joins the likes of Governor Tim Walz, who called the incident 'horrific'.
President Donald Trump has also spoken out following the shooting, which took place during the first week of classes at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, and as yet there is no known motive.
Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, saying he had been 'fully briefed' on the shooting.
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He continued: "The FBI quickly responded and they are on the scene."
Trump stressed that the White House and FBI would 'continue to monitor this terrible situation' and offered his prayers for everyone involved.
The attacker was described as a man dressed all in black and was seen carrying a rifle.
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According to the BBC, the Minneapolis city government said the attacker had been 'contained' and was no longer an 'active threat'.
Minnesota Gov Walz said: "I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence."
Meanwhile, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara confirmed in a press conference that the gunman 'took his own life'.
O'Hara added that the shooter opened fire at the church windows: "During the mass, a gunman approached from the outside of the building. He struck children and worshippers that were inside the building."
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Five children have been admitted to Children’s Minnesota, a paediatric trauma hospital.
Local man Bill Bienemann said he heard dozens of shots, perhaps as many as 50, going on for almost four minutes.
"I was shocked. I said, ‘There’s no way that could be gunfire’," he said, adding: "There was so much of it. It was sporadic."
He is familiar with the school as his daughter, Alexandra, attended the school from kindergarten to eighth grade in 2014.
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She said: "It breaks my heart, makes me sick to my stomach, knowing that there are people I know who are either injured or maybe even killed."
Alexandra added: "It doesn’t make me feel safe at all in this community that I have been in for so long."
The school was evacuated, and there was a heavy uniformed law enforcement presence outside.
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Children were seen being united with their families.
Elsewhere, Democratic National Committee chairman Ken Martin noted the shooting and 'unknown amount of victims'.
Earlier, the Minneapolis Police Department said: "The public is advised to stay away from the area to allow emergency personnel to help victims - W. 54th Street between Lyndale and Nicollet Ave. The families of children at the school can go to the reunification zone at the Annunciation School (525 W. 54th St.)."
The school shooting was the latest gun crime in the city in less than 24 hours.
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One person was killed and six others were hurt in a shooting on Tuesday afternoon (August 26) outside a high school in Minneapolis, and two people died in two other shootings in the city.
Shockingly, there has been a recent spate of hoax calls about shootings on at least a dozen US college campuses.
The hoax calls sometimes feature gunshot sounds in the background.
Several of the calls prompted universities to issue texts to 'run, hide, fight' as the new school year starts.