Seven killed in Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting
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Police say they believe at least seven people, including a gunman, have died in a shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek in the US state of Wisconsin.
A police officer had been shot multiple times and was undergoing surgery, said police. He was among three people injured in the attack.
Police say it does not appear that there was more than one shooter, as witnesses initially thought.
Tactical police teams have cleared the building.
President Barack Obama spoke of his sadness at the shooting, as he did after the gun massacre that left 12 dead at a Colorado cinema just over two weeks ago.
At a press conference, police said they were treating the attack as a "domestic terrorist-type incident".
At least two reports earlier from inside the temple, or gurdwara, suggested the perpetrator was a white male.
Greenfield Police Chief Bradley Wentlandt said calls had been made to the 911 emergency services number at about 10:25 local time (15:25 GMT).
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Mark HonadelLocal politicianIn today's society, I don't think there's any place that's free from idiots."”
He said a police officer had been sent to the scene and had "engaged an active shooter", during which he had been shot multiple times.
Oak Creek is a town of about 30,000 people in the south-east corner of the state.
The website for the temple says it opened in 1999 and now has a congregation of 350-400. Sunday morning was the busiest time of worship, members of the congregation said.
'Hiding in closets'Chief Wentlandt said police had identified four people dead inside the temple and three outside - including the gunman shot by police, who he said was "down on the scene and presumed deceased".
Earlier Chief Wentlandt said the wounded police officer was expected to survive, but in a later briefing said the officer's condition was "unknown".
At least three men were critically wounded and were being treated at Milwaukee's Froedtert Hospital, said officials at that facility.
It is thought that witness reports of more than one gunman could be the same attacker.
Sukhwindar Nagr told the Associated Press news agency he had called his brother-in-law's phone. A priest at the temple answered and told him that his brother-in-law had been shot, along with three priests.
The priest also said women and children had been hiding in closets in the temple, Mr Nagr added.
Suni Singh told Newsradio 620 WTMJ that he had spoken to a friend inside the temple at the time.
"My friend called and said, 'I heard the shot, and two people falling down in the parking lot.' He saw the shooter reloading the gun," Mr Singh said.
Parminder Kaleka, who was waiting outside the temple, told the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel that she had phoned her brother-in-law - who she said was the priest of the temple and was inside "at that time [the] shooting happened".
Bystanders, including some distraught relatives of those inside, are at the scene"He told me 25 or more people got shot, at that time they don't even know if they are dead or alive, so a lot of people got injured."
She said she had heard her brother-in-law had also been shot, and said distraught families were gathered outside the temple.
"We are waiting for news, all the families together," she said.
"This is a big tragedy for our church," she said tearfully, adding that everyone had always assumed it would be a place of safety.
Other relatives of people inside the temple at the time of the shooting said they had heard reports of children being held hostage inside the basement, but there was no confirmation of this.
President Obama said he was "deeply saddened" by the incident.
"Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who were killed and wounded," he said in statement released by the White House.
"As we mourn this loss which took place at a house of worship, we are reminded how much our country has been enriched by Sikhs, who are a part of our broader American family."
Local politician Mark Honadel called the attack "craziness".
The state representative told CNN: "Unfortunately, when this type of stuff hits your area, you say to yourself, 'why?' But in today's society, I don't think there's any place that's free from idiots."
Wasted lives killed because redneck Americans are afraid of they're own pussy shadow.
LOL!!!!