Gunman shoots, hurls grenades into crowd in Belgium, kills 3

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REPORTING FROM LONDON –- A gunman with a history of drugs and arms offenses hurled grenades and sprayed bullets into a crowded square of Christmas shoppers in eastern Belgium on Tuesday, killing at least three people and injuring scores of others, authorities said.

The attacker died at the scene in the town of Liege, although the circumstances remained murky. Local media reports cited witnesses as saying he shot himself, though whether deliberately or accidentally was unclear.

Authorities said they did not know what motivated the gunman, identified as Norodine Amrani, whose rampage sent bystanders fleeing in panic. Amrani, 33, had no history of involvement with terrorism.
He had, however, been summoned for questioning by police Tuesday, prosecutor Danielle Reynders told reporters, without elaborating on the reason.

PHOTO GALLERY: Belgian grenade attack

Among the dead were two boys, 17 and 15, Reynders said. The teenagers had just finished taking their school exams, the mayor of Liege, Willy Demeyer, was quoted as saying the in local media.

Also killed was a 75-year-old woman, Reynders said. At least 75 people were injured, some seriously.
There were reports Tuesday evening that two more victims had died in the hospital, a young man and a baby girl who was about 2 years old.

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-- Henry Chu