‘Our nation grieves lost loved ones’

REPRESENTING his country’s anguish, US President George W Bush last night said that he prays for comfort for those victimised by the “dark turn” of the day at Virginia Tech that turned into the nation’s deadliest shooting spree.

“Laura and I have come to Blacksburg today with hearts full of sorrow,” he said in remarks at a convocation on the campus where 33 people, including the suspected gunman, died in two separate shootings the day before. “This is a day of mourning for the Virginia Tech community and it is a day of sadness for our entire nation.”

Before flying to the tragedy-stricken university in south-western Virginia, Mr Bush also ordered flags flown at half staff and issued a written proclamation in honour of those killed and wounded.