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Mass shooting in Russian university leaves 5 dead, more wounded

MOSCOW — A gunman opened fire in a university in the Russian city of Perm on Monday morning, leaving eight people dead and others wounded, according to Russia’s Investigative Committee.

The gunman has been detained, the Interior Ministry said.

The Perm State University press service said the perpetrator used a so-called “traumatic” firearm; such guns are designed to fire non-lethal rubber or plastic projectiles, but can be modified to fire other ammunition.

Students and staff of the university locked themselves in rooms, and the university urged those who could leave the campus to do so. The state Tass news agency cited an unnamed source in the law enforcement as saying that some students jumped out of the windows of a building.

Russian students film the alleged shooter approaching the entrance of the university. east2west news
Students were warned by the university to flee the campus if they were able, however several were locked inside classrooms with their teachers. AP Photo

The number of wounded was uncertain — reports varied from six to 14 and it was not clear if any of those were injuries from jumping from the building.

Perm is about 700 miles east of Moscow, with a population of about 1 million. The university enrolls some 12,000 students.

There was no immediate information on the gunman’s identity or possible motivation.

A broken window overlooking the area that the shooting took place on September 20, 2021. EPA/RUSSIAN INVESTIGATIVE COMMITEE HANDOUT

In May, a gunman opened fire at a school in the city of Kazan, killing seven students and two teachers.