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PM visits scene of gun massacre 'tragedy'

WHITEHAVEN, England — Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday visited injured survivors of a gun massacre which killed 12 people, calling it "the most appalling tragedy".Cameron also hailed the "incredible" bravery…


WHITEHAVEN, England — Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday visited injured survivors of a gun massacre which killed 12 people, calling it "the most appalling tragedy".Cameron also hailed the "incredible" bravery of local people and emergency service workers caught up in the deadly rampage by 52-year-old taxi driver Derrick Bird, which was reportedly linked to his financial problems.His visit came as police in the rural and normally peaceful Lake District of northwest England battled to work out exactly what prompted Bird to launch a three-hour killing spree which claimed the life of his twin brother, among others. The local area has "suffered the most appalling tragedy and it will have a huge impact on the community," Cameron told reporters after meeting survivors and police."I wanted to come here to show the government wanted to listen, wanted to show how much it cares about what has happened here." Britain already has some of the tightest gun laws in the world but Cameron said these would be re-examined after the dust has settled.He said "lots of questions" would have to be asked "and we have to make sure that we answer those questions and do everything we can to help them (local people) through that process."In the towns and villages where Bird struck before turning the gun on himself, local people were struggling to come to terms with what happened."Everyone will pull together and get through it but it's tragic. In the wider community here, everybody knows somebody affected," said Anne-Marie Hodgson, who runs a cafe in Frizington, where Bird killed his family's lawyer.June Skelton added: "Even if somebody's got money problems, why take innocent people, why not go out to the woods and top himself without ruining 12 families' lives?"Local Church of England churches were open throughout the day to allow people to pray and reflect on the horror wrought on their towns and villages.As well as killing 12, Bird also wounded 11 people as he drove through the area, calling people over to his car before openin

last modification 2010-06-04 17:30:21

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