Police officer kills colleague, his children and himself

A police officer killed his two children and a superior today before turning his gun on himself at his suburban Paris station, an official said.

The killings occurred about 12.15pm (1115 Irish time) at the gendarmerie station at Malakoof, south of the French capital, Paris.

The officer, whose identity was not made public, fatally shot a superior and then killed his two children, around 10 years of age, before killing himself, Commander Pierre Bouquin said.

He said the officer used his personal weapon in the killings.

Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who served as defence minister in the previous government, rushed to the police station.