Twelve dead as gunman strikes in tourist hotspot

BOOT — At least twelve people were killed when a gunman went on the rampage through one of the country's most popular tourist regions Wednesday before apparently killing himself.Derrick Bird, a 52-year-old taxi driver, spent nearly four hours driving through the Lake District , reportedly shooting at people in 11 different locations from his car window.Police warned frightened local residents and tourists to stay indoors for their own protection while they tracked him down. What is thought to be his body was eventually found in woods, along with a gun, near the town of Boot.People in the normally sleepy Lake District -- popular with hikers for its spectacular mountain views, plus fans of children's author Beatrix Potter -- voiced deep shock at what had happened."You would think he was a very placid, very quiet man, kept himself to himself, so I do believe something pushed him over the edge," John Kane, a local resident who knew Bird, told the BBC.A local doctor, Barrie Walker, told of "blood flowing in the streets" as he attended to victims, while the local ambulance service said it received 51 emergency calls as the tragedy unfolded.One resident, Gary Toomey, recounted how he found one victim bleeding on the doorstep of his home."I saw a car screeching off and a man saying 'help me'. He was bleeding heavily from the side of his face," he told local media."He said he dived out of the way of the shot, and the man in the car pointed the gun down and shot him again in the back from about six feet away as he lay on the floor."Prime Minister David Cameron said he was "alarmed and shocked" by the shootings, which he revealed had killed at least twelve people.Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Hyde, who is leading the investigation, said they did not know what caused Bird to strike."Our focus now is to try and work out what has caused this and where Mr. Bird has been over the last 24 hours," he said."I would plead to anyone who has seen him or has seen any of the incidents, please come forward, speak to us and help u

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