14 Killed.


"Although gun ownership is widespread in Switzerland, violent crime is rare and there are only minimal controls at public buildings. Politicians rarely have police protection."

[url]http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34018-2001Sep27.html[/url]

ZUG, Switzerland –– A gunman dressed as a police officer went on a rampage Thursday in the state parliament building in Zug, killing at least 14 people, a senior Swiss official said.

Three members of the local government were among the victims, said Peter Hess, president of the Swiss national parliament. Hess, who is from Zug, interrupted a regular session of the national parliament in Bern to announce the death toll.

Journalists said the man stormed into a meeting with an assault rifle.

"The man strode through the whole floor, shooting at people," Swiss Telegraphic Agency reporter Dominik Hertach told television.

Hertach said people threw themselves to the floor amid loud screams from the injured. There was then an explosion, he said, and smoke filled the room. The force of the blast ripped doors off and shattered windows.

Police sealed off the center of Zug, a wealthy, lakeside town near Zurich, best known within Switzerland for its low tax rate.

Initial reports said the man was acting on his own and apparently had a grievance against a local government decision. Swiss radio said the man was seized. Police confiscated a car with Swiss license plates.

Viktor Schaech, who runs a kiosk near the parliament building, said he was chatting to a friend when he heard the sound of shooting.

"It was complete chaos," he said. "It was absolutely awful. I'm still in shock."

Although gun ownership is widespread in Switzerland, violent crime is rare and there are only minimal controls at public buildings. Politicians rarely have police protection.

Security at Switzerland's national parliament in Bern was immediately stepped up following the incident.

Well, bye bye to civie ownership of those superb SIG 550's.[:(]

psyop?