Up to 10 feared dead in Oregon school shooting

Up to 10 people were reported killed and over 20 wounded on Thursday as a shooting erupted in a community college in the US state of Oregon, as local officials said the gunman had been detained.

Authorities said the shooting took place in one of the classrooms in the science building at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg and that a suspect was in custody.

Between seven and 10 people were killed and at least 20 wounded, local news network KATU quoted Oregon State Police Lieutenant Bill Fugate as saying.

CNN, citing local officials, said at least 20 people were critically injured, including one woman who was shot in the chest.

The college was immediately placed on lockdown as firefighters, police and concerned parents rushed to the site.

Douglas County fire Marshall Ray Shoufler said firefighters had evacuated 11 wounded people from the college but two had died.

He said when firefighters arrived at the scene, police has the shooter in custody.

News reports said the shooter may have posted a message online before the shooting

Authorities set up a triage center at the college and searched students as they left the facility.

Located in a rural area, the school has some 3,300 students.

School shootings are a disturbing reality of American life and many facilities have reinforced security in recent years, especially in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012.

Twenty students and six adults were killed at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut by 20-year-old Adam Lanza.

Source: AFP