March 28, 2002	Thursday	Muharram 13, 1423

PARIS, March 27: A lone gunman killed eight people and injured 30 others, eight seriously, when he opened fire in the town hall of the Paris suburb of Nanterre on Wednesday at the end of a council meeting, emergency services said.

The gunman, in his thirties, was overpowered by several people at the meeting, local police sources said.

He was arrested and taken to a police station for questioning.

No information was immediately available on the identity of the victims but police sources said all those killed were local councillors.

The motive for the deadly rampage was unknown, state prosecutor Yves Bot told AFP, adding that 18 people had been seriously wounded in the gunfire and 11 slightly injured, along with the eight fatalities.

French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and Interior Minister Daniel Vaillant rushed to the scene.

Witnesses said a man who had attended the council meeting stood up when it had finished and fired off some 30 shots at the 50 other people present.

Several of the wounded were hit in the upper body and rushed to a Paris hospital. Twenty other less seriously injured people were treated on the spot.

A Nanterre police source said the man opened fire with an automatic pistol during the meeting at around 01:15 am (0015 GMT).

Emergency procedures were activated. Twenty ambulances were rushed to the scene and a medical post established at the town hall west of Paris.

A psychological counselling centre was also set up in a nearby municipal building.

There was a heavy police presence in the area at 3:00 a.m. (0200 GMT) and all access to the town hall blocked.

POSSESSION ILLEGAL: The gunman had legally acquired the three pistols used in his shooting spree, authorities said.

Strict laws regulate ownership of firearms in the country, although a flourishing illegal traffick in weapons still goes on.

Anybody who wishes to possess guns must first undergo a background check by police and the gendarmerie before his or her regional officials can issue a licence. The check notably verifies whether the applicant has a criminal record.

In most cases, gun owners are members of a firing range and must pass a technical test on firearm usage and guarantee that the weapons will be kept in secure conditions, such as in a safe, and will not be brought out except for target practice.

AID WORKER: Richard Durn had spent time in the Balkans several years ago as an aid worker, police said.

Investigators probing his background for clues as to why he planned his shooting spree said they were still trying to get exact details on Durn’s past activities.

Initial information showed he had been in both Kosovo and Bosnia in some sort of humanitarian aid capacity, but that he was currently unemployed.—AFP