'Al-Qaeda' gunman in college siege (Dyersburg State Community College, Tennessee)

Associated Press ^ | 09-17-03

[Brian S]

HOME > BREAKING NEWS > STORY

'Al-Qaeda' gunman in college siege From correspondents in Dyersburg, Tennessee September 18, 2003

A MAN with a gun and a knife claiming to be a member of al-Qaeda took a classroom of US college students hostage this afternoon.

Four people were released several hours into the standoff, authorities said.

Because the gunman claimed to be a member of an international terrorist organisation, the FBI has been called in, but Police Chief Bobby Williamson said authorities have no reason to believe the claim.

A SWAT team and about five hostage negotiators were among the officers called to the scene.

No injuries or gunshots were reported in the standoff at Dyersburg State Community College, about 120 km north-east of Memphis, Tennessee.

The gunman, believed to have a 9mm pistol - the calibre now used by US armed forces - had made no demands but said he would kill himself, Williamson said.

Williamson said About 12 to 16 people were in the classroom when the standoff began.

Officers were communicating to the gunman through student hostages on their mobile phones, "but he won't talk directly to us," Williamson said.

Police refused to identify the gunman but said he was not a student or college employee. They are talking to his sister on the scene, but the gunman won't talk to her, Williamson said.

"I think eventually he'll surrender," Williamson said.

Athletic director Alan Barnett said that authorities cleared the campus of other students.

The Associated Press

[jrushing]

believed to have a 9mm pistol - the calibre now used by US armed forces

Guilt by association!
9mm used by the US armed forces, used by the Israeli built UZI machine gun, used by Nazis, used by many despotic regimes & also by other ugly assault weapons.

[tet68]

That was my first thought---if just one "victim" had been allowed to arm himself for self defense, this could have been over almost before it began--and the world would be a better place for it.


Well, probably the sad part is that the teacher and those students HAVE the weapons they need to overcome this guy RIGHT IN THE CLASSROOM! They have pencils and pens, bookbags shoes any number of things that can become offensive if they just think about it.

Stick a pencil in this guys eye........he's done!

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I was wondering the same thing. What in the world does the caliber of his gun have to do with the U.S. military?

[TADSLOS]

"I think eventually he'll surrender," Williamson said.

The perp claims to be a member of Al Qaeda and this guy thinks he'll surrender?! Where's this guy been for the past two years, in a cave? Hey, Andy Taylor, this ain't some moonshiner holed up in a farmhouse. KILL the SOB before he kills innocent people and martyrs himself anyway!

[Calpernia]

>>>>'Al-Qaeda' gunman in college siege From correspondents in Dyersburg, Tennessee September 18, 2003

September 18???

[Brian S]

September 18???

I yanked this off from an Australian News Site, hence Sept. 18.

[Calpernia]

Did you notice if tomorrow's lottery numbers were posted there too?? :))

[mjp]

military 9 mm baretta

[TXnMA]

the FBI has been called in...A SWAT team and about five hostage negotiators were among the officers called to the scene.

Let's hope they don't burn the whole shcool down "for the children"...

[oyez]

Suspect has now killed himself. To hostages have minor wounds.

[basil]

Never take a pencil to a gun fight!