Man Kills 14 at Swiss Legislature
Photos
By PETER HODY, Associated Press Writer
ZUG, Switzerland (AP) - A man enraged with local officials opened fire with an assault rifle and tossed a grenade in a crowded state legislature before shooting himself Thursday. Switzerland's worst-ever shooting spree left 15 people dead, including the gunman.
The rampage by Friedrich Leibacher, a 57-year-old Zurich resident, killed three members of the canton of Zug's seven-member government, as well as 11 of its 80 lawmakers. Fourteen officials were seriously injured, including government chief Hanspeter Uster, who was shot through a lung.
The spree plunged Switzerland into mourning and prompted an immediate rethinking of security standards in a country where even the president has little police protection.
``It was like an execution,'' said lawmaker Hanspeter Hausherr, who was in the chamber when Leibacher stormed in, wearing a police vest and firing at least one magazine of 20 bullets from his 5.6 mm SIG ``Sturmgewehr 90'' in a five-minute frenzy.
He then detonated a grenade, which ripped doors off and shattered windows of the stately two-story building near Zug's quaint old town and glistening lake not far from Zurich. He then shot himself with a pistol.
As lawmakers hit the floor in panic and the injured screamed in pain, journalists who were covering the parliamentary meeting cowered behind their press desks for cover.
``Unbelievable, just unbelievable,'' said lawmaker Jo Lang, one lens of his glasses shattered and still in shock from the bullet that whizzed through his curly hair.
``I just remember the shout 'Get Down,' said another lawmaker, Jean-Pierre Prodolliet. ``Then I heard bang, bang, bang, five or 10 times. Then there was silence until the next bang, bang, bang.''
Zug's famously low taxes, proximity to Zurich airport and stunning Alpine views have made it a favorite base for numerous foreign firms, including all the world's major commodity traders. Marc Rich (news - web sites), a fugitive U.S. financier who caused a storm by being pardoned by former President Clinton (news - web sites), has long been based there.
Swiss President Moritz Leuenberger broke off a meeting with Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade and headed to Zug upon learning of the attack. He ordered all state flags to fly at half-staff for the next three days.