ID :
90784
Sat, 11/21/2009 - 07:24
Auther :

(2nd LD) Six S. Koreans wounded in Saipan shooting spree


(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with local media report)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Nov. 20 (Yonhap) -- Six South Korean tourists were wounded Friday on the
Pacific resort island of Saipan when an unidentified gunman sprayed bullets in a
daylight attack, officials here said.

It remains unclear whether the attacker specifically targeted the South Koreans,
who were visiting a popular tourist spot in downtown Saipan, they added.
The gunman fired more than 10 bullets towards the tourists and ran away,
according to the officials.
"One of them was badly wounded but he is not in a critical condition, while the
other five were slightly wounded, mainly suffering just a few scratches," a
foreign ministry official said. The 39-year-old, only identified by his family
name Park, is undergoing surgery on his back at a local hospital, the official
added.
Meanwhile, the Saipan Tribune, a local newspaper, reported later that the
assailant shot himself to death after two separate shootings that killed four
individuals including two local residents in their late 20s and early 30s along
with two children under 10 years old.
Citing police there, it said the gunman appears to have been an employee at a
shooting range.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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