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29 November 2010
Last updated at 21:36 ET
An armed male student is holding 18 students and a teacher hostage at a school in the US state of Wisconsin.
An administrator at Marinette High School called the authorities shortly after 1500 (2100 GMT) to say a student with a handgun had taken over a room.
Marinette Police Chief Jeff Skorik told reporters that hostage negotiators were inside the school, and that there had not been any threats or demands made.
Five hostages have been released and no gunfire or injuries have been reported.
The police have blocked off roads near the school, and local media report that a Swat team has been called to the scene from Green Bay.
It is not known if the gunman was supposed to be in the classroom where the hostages are being held. He does not have any police history.
Chief Skorik said that all contact between the armed student and the negotiating team had been through the female teacher held hostage.
"We have no idea as far as motivations at this point," he said. "We want to encourage this young man... to come out."
Parents have been asked to go to the local courthouse if they have not been in contact with their children. Meanwhile, dozens of people continue to gather near the school, hoping to find out what is going on.
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An administrator at Marinette High School called the authorities shortly after 1500 (2100 GMT) to say a student with a handgun had taken over a room.
Marinette Police Chief Jeff Skorik told reporters that hostage negotiators were inside the school, and that there had not been any threats or demands made.
Five hostages have been released and no gunfire or injuries have been reported.
The police have blocked off roads near the school, and local media report that a Swat team has been called to the scene from Green Bay.
It is not known if the gunman was supposed to be in the classroom where the hostages are being held. He does not have any police history.
Chief Skorik said that all contact between the armed student and the negotiating team had been through the female teacher held hostage.
"We have no idea as far as motivations at this point," he said. "We want to encourage this young man... to come out."
Parents have been asked to go to the local courthouse if they have not been in contact with their children. Meanwhile, dozens of people continue to gather near the school, hoping to find out what is going on.
Are you in the area? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC, you can do so using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions
Powered by WizardRSS | Best Membership Site Software