Police not sure of number killed in shooting at Amish school

A number of people were killed in a shooting at a one-room Amish schoolhouse today, including the gunman, Pennsylvania state police said.

“There are a number of people dead. … The exact number I do not know yet,” state police Cpl. Ralph Striebig said.

The person who fired the shots was among those killed, Striebig said.

There are also a number of casualties, he said.

Police surrounded the one-room school in Nickel Mines, south-eastern Lancaster County late this morning.

The Lancaster County emergency website reported that dozens of emergency units were dispatched to a “medical emergency” at 10.45am (5.45pm Irish time) today.

Officials at the Penn State Milton Hershey Medical Centre confirmed that victims were being admitted there.

A spokeswoman said the hospital anticipated treating more than one patient, but did not know how many.

About three dozen Amish people were seen standing behind a police line, and at least two ambulances had left the scene. Television news helicopters also showed a person being taken away on a stretcher to a waiting medical helicopter.