Twelve dead at Brazilian school after man opens fire

12 people died during a shooting at a school in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. The gunman is numbered among the dead, after taking his own life. 10 people are reported injured during the attack by a man identified as Wellington Menezes Olivera, a 23 year old ex-student from the school.

The attack took place just after 8am local time (11:00 GMT) this morning. Television station TV Globo reported that Olivera entered the Escola Municipal Tasso da Silveira school, telling officials that he was attending to make a speech to students. He was reportedly carrying at least two revolvers and a significant amount of ammunition.

Witnesses state that he began to fire at pupils heads, killing ten girls and one boy. Rio state health secretary, Sergio Cortes, stated that those injured in the attack were taken to local hospitals. At least four were said to be in a "grave" condition.

Rio's Police chief, Martha Rocha, said in a press conference that the gunman had no previous criminal history. She stated that he was carrying 2 firearms, although she did not specify what type. During the attack he fired off at least 30 rounds of ammunition. There were approximately 400 people in the school when the attack began, and shortly after the shooting started, two small boys outside the school, one with a gunshot wound, ran almost two city blocks until they found police and alerted them to the incident.

Police report that Olivera was carrying a "long and rambling" letter, confirming his intentions to commit suicide.The two officers who were made aware ran to the school, and quickly managed to locate the gunman, leading to a shooting match. One officer, Marcio Alves, stated that "He saw me and aimed a gun at me, I shot him in the legs, he fell down the stairs and then shot himself in the head."

In a statement by the Mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes, he made it clear that life at the school had become a "hellish nightmare." Authorities closed the school temporarily while they investigate, but Mayor Paes confirmed that the school will reopen.

The fate of all the children in the school is not yet known. One eleven year old pupil from the school, Wanderson Barbosa, was interviewed by Associated Press as he sat on the steps of his house. He was in his classroom when the attack started, and he and others in his class thought that other students were fighting, until his teacher told them to get to the floor, because it was gunfire.

"I'm so worried," Barbosa said to reporters, "We don't have news of everyone yet."

Meanwhile, Rio's Governor, Sergio Cabral, called the attacker a "psychopath", whilst indicating that he does not believe anyone else was involved in the attack, but that investigations into the incident will continue.

Mother charged with hurting baby; Munchausen Syndrome by proxy?

Tuscon, Arizona police say that Blanca Montano, 21, an Arizona mother, was arrested and charged with child abuse on Tuesday for purposely injuring her seven-month-old daughter. Hospital staff reported Montano to authorities after the child was found to be suffering from nine separate, rare infections which became worse after the mother's visits.

Investigation by police determined that Montano had knowingly poisoned her child and made her sick. Montano was then prevented from visiting and the child noticeably improved.

Montano hospitalized her two children at University Medical Center in Tucson in February where they were diagnosed and treated for an infection. While one child improved and was released, her infant daughter became increasingly sick and was significantly worse following visits from her mother. Suspecting that the mother was exhibiting symptoms of a rare condition known as Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, in which a mother intentionally harms her child to obtain attention or sympathy for herself, hospital officials contacted police and set up a hidden camera in the infant's room.

Police say that when the mother realized that there was a camera in the hospital room, she covered the child's crib with a towel.

KOLD News 13 obtained a search warrant which said doctors "believe that Blanca is giving her daughter something to make her sick. They indicated the ingestion of feces could cause the infections."

Dr Marc Feldman, a psychiatrist at the University of Alabama says that Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy is not a psychiatric disorder. "It is not a mental illness. It is a form of abuse, just like sexual abuse, physical abuse and emotional abuse – it's just a variant," he said.

Montano is out on $50,000 bail and will next appear in court on April 15.

Serial killer suspected loose in New York, more bodies found

Police in Suffolk County, New York suspect that a serial killer may be on the loose in the area, following the discovery of eight bodies on beaches near the New York City area since December 2010. The latest discovery of three corpses was made by investigators on Gilgo Beach, which is a barrier island south of Long Island about 45 miles (70 kilometres) east of New York. The corpses were located in an area of "dense brush".

Four of the eight bodies located so far along a highway near the beach have been identified as prostitutes who had arranged meetings with clients via the internet, over services such as Craigslist; victim number five, whose body was found last week, has not yet been formally identified. Police forensics officers took a month to discover who the first four victims were, using dental records and DNA sampling.

Police are remaining cautious over the latest batch of three, saying that they have yet to officially connect this find with the previous five corpses.

According to Suffolk County's Police Commissioner, Richard Dormer, the latest three sets of remains were found by officers on foot and via an air search as they scoured tick-infested underbrush and evergreens. The remains of the new victims were found about 500 metres apart.

During the investigations, police have also been focusing on the disappearance of a prostitute from New Jersey, Shannan Gilbert. She was last seen in the Oak Beach, New York area in May 2010, where she had arranged to meet a client. A witness in a gated community claims that a woman he suspects to be Gilbert came to the door of his house around 4.45pm on May 1 last year, begging for help. She fled when he tried to call the police.

DNA testing however, has determined that the fifth body is not Gilbert's.

A thorough search is continuing in the area, Commissioner Dormer said, using all available methods ranging from cadaver dogs, police academy cadets and detectives through to volunteer firefighters.

Female boxer shot before fight by stepfather in Berlin

A female boxer has been shot in her dressing room before a world championship title fight by her stepfather in Berlin, Germany. Lebanese born Rola El-Halabi was shot in the hands, knees and feet while she was preparing for the fight. She survived the shooting but may never be able to return to the ring. Two secruity guards were also injured in the attack.

El-Halabi has spoke about the shooting to German media saying "I was with my coach and manager in the changing room when Dad rushed into the room, threatening us with a gun and shouted 'All Out!'. Then he shot me in the hand from three feet away, I cried and cried, begging him to put the gun away. He threatened to shoot himself, but he was too cowardly. He took his time aiming and and shot me in the knee, then in my right foot."

Malte Mueller-Michaelis, her promoter commented on her condition saying "Her operation went smoothly, but the shots were intended to end her career and it seems almost certain that that will happen." It is believed that the shooting was due to El-Halabi's decision to stop working with her stepfather as her manager.

The 26 year-old had been due to fight Irma Adler of Bosnia for the WIBF world lightweight title. El-Halabi has an undefeted record with 11 wins and is the former holder of two world titles.

Serial killer sentenced to death in Swaziland

A convicted serial killer has been sentenced to death by hanging in the African country of Swaziland; his death will be the first execution in the country since 1983. David Simelane was sentenced to death by a judge nine days after being convicted of the murders of 28 people. Simelane's lawyers said they would appeal against the sentence and the verdict.

Simelane's killing spree is believed to have begun in the late 1990s. He was arrested in 2001 after a tip off, after which he led police to the bodies of 45 people in various places in the country. The majority of the bodies were buried in shallow graves in the woods just outside the city of Manzini. Among the dead were several pregenant women.

Several people reacted with joy when the news of the verdict was released. "He is not a person that should be let out into society ever, so it is right that he be hung," women's rights activist Mbali Dlamini said. "Now it is about the families—not David." The bodies of the victims can now be returned to relitives for burial; they had been held as evidence ever since the discovery.

Police officer killed as car bomb explodes in Omagh, Northern Ireland

A bomb positioned below the car of a police officer in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom has exploded, killing him. The 25-year-old officer, recently employed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, was involved in the incident outside his residence in Omagh, County Tyrone, which occurred at a time immediately before 1600 BST (1500 UTC) today.

It is currently uncertain as to whether or not any other individuals were killed or injured as a result of the incident.

Gerry Adams, the current president of Sinn Féin, has stated: "I want to send my condolences to his family at this hugely traumatic time. Sinn Féin is determined that those responsible will not set back the progress of the peace and political process."

Shaun Woodward, the present Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, has claimed that "[t]his evil and cowardly attack will sicken everyone across Northern Ireland. These crimes are targeted on those who protect the community. We all deeply mourn the brave young man whose life was taken by this savage crime. We all have a duty to stop those behind it from succeeding."

Over the course of the past one-and-a-half years, numerous incidents of a similar nature have taken place with Police Service of Northern Ireland employees being targeted.

UN workers killed by Afghans over burning of a Qur'an in Florida

An Afghan mob attacked a United Nations compound last Friday, killing seven UN workers and setting fire to the compound. The attack occurred after several hours of peaceful protests, broadcast online, over the burning of a Qur'an by a Florida pastor.

The protest occurred in the northern Afghanistan city of Mazar-e-Sharif and was in response to reports that controversial US pastor Terry Jones had instigated the burning of a Qur'an on March 20 by his colleague Wayne Sapp at the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida.

Jones drew criticism last year when he announced plans to burn Qur'ans on the anniversary of 9/11. At that time there were several protests in Afghanistan. Jones was persuaded not to carry out his plans, influenced by a phone call from Afghanistan commander US Gen. David Petraeus who feared burning the Qur'an would result in the deaths of US military personnel.

Friday's attack occurred after several hours of protests by approximately 2000 demonstrators in front of the UN compound in Mazar-e-Sharif that was broadcast online. Demonstrators began to throw stones, tried to climb the compound walls, and then overwhelmed the UN guards positioned outside the compound, taking their weapons and shooting at Afghan police. They set parts of the compound on fire.

According to Reuters, three UN staff and four Gurkha guards were killed. The UN victims included personnel from Nepal, Norway, Sweden and Romania. The UN is still in the process of determining the exact death toll and the extent of the damage. At least four demonstrators were killed also

Man charged with two counts of attempted murder in south London, England

A man, aged nineteen, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder by the police in London, England, United Kingdom. Anthony McCalla, from the district of Streatham, has been charged in relation with the shooting of Thusha Kamaleswaran, a five-year-old girl, and 35-year-old Roshan Selvakumar, a passer-by, in a shop in Stockwell, a district located in the south of the city.

Kamaleswaran was shot in her chest, while Selvakumar was wounded in his head. Selvakumar is currently considered to be in stable condition. However, Kamaleswaran has been listed in critical albeit stable condition.

Both of the victims are from Sri Lanka but are not related to each other. According to Sky News, she is thought to be the youngest victim of gun-related offences in London.

McCalla is expected to appear in the Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court today. Meanwhile, another individual, a 14-year-old boy, has also been placed under arrest on the grounds of attempted murder.

The incident took place after three youngsters riding on bicycles pursued two minors, who sought cover inside the store. According to BBC News Online, investigators have discovered that the Kamaleswaran's mother, as well as her brother, twelve, and sister, three, were inside the store during the shooting.

For details which may result in those involved in this incident being caught, Crimestoppers UK have pledged a reward of £50,000.

Tonga: Four guilty over ferry disaster that killed 74

Tonga's largest criminal trial today ended in the conviction of four men and the state shipping firm over the sinking of MV Princess Ashika. 74 were killed when the ferry went down off Nuku'alofa in 2009.

The vast majority of bodies remain missing. Only two were recovered, including one Tongan - a 21-year-old mother called Vae Fetu'u Taufa. The Shipping Corporation of Polynesia (SCP) manager John Jonesse, acting director of the national department for ports and marine affairs Viliami Tu'ipulotu, captain Viliami Makahokovalu Tuputupu, and first mate Semisi Pomale were all convicted of manslaughter by negligence. The men were remanded into custody to await sentencing; they face a maximum of ten years in jail.

Justice Shuster cited the severity of the offences in denying bail, which was requested by Laki Niu and Vuna Fa'otusia, attorneys representing the accused.

Built in the early 1970s, by 1985 the ferry was found to be unseaworthy and hence not suited for use in deep water. When SCP bought it in 2009 from Fiji, it suffered from "huge" rusting holes and on August 5 that year sank in deep water during a storm. Most passengers were sleeping below deck when the ship was lost near the island of Tongatapu, where it remains on the seabed. No women or children escaped.

The six-week trial followed a royal commission of inquiry that found Jonesse, from New Zealand, bought Princess Ashika "without any proper due diligence, surveys, inspections, valuations, documentation or proper inquiry having been completed." It also concluded Tuputupu chose to sail that day despite the ship leaking on other journeys. The inquiry branded the loss "a result of systemic and individual failures... The tragedy is that they were all easily preventable and the deaths were completely senseless."

SCP was convicted of charges concerning the vessel's seaworthiness by the jury, which sat in Tonga's parliament building after the trial's high profile saw it moved away from Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

Jonesse and Tuputupu have both been convicted of five counts of taking an unseaworthy ship to sea under the Shipping Act, for voyages held on July 3, July 9, July 15, July 23 and August 5. Jonesse is also guilty of forgery and knowingly using a forged document.

US woman sentenced to jail for faking son’s cancer

A Michigan judge sentenced a woman to a year in jail Tuesday for giving her twelve-year-old son drugs so that he appeared to have leukemia and telling him he was dying. She also shaved his eyebrows and head. The motive was to fool her son, relatives and the community, including churchs, into thinking he had cancer in a scam to collect money.

Prosecutors said Carol Lynn Schnuphase, 47, shaved her son's head and eyebrows and fed him food laced with opiates so he would look sick and feel ill. The scam produced thousands of dollars in donations. When authorities attempted to removed him from her custody, she faked his death.

"Your conduct, ma’am, in this case is reprehensible. To tell a vulnerable, defenseless young boy that he is dying of cancer for your own pecuniary gain is almost beyond the realm of comprehension," said Judge Caretti. "To then give your son strong opiate-based pills crushed up in his apple sauce to further your despicable scheme defies all reason."Macomb County Circuit Judge Richard Caretti also gave Schnuphase three years' probation and six months house arrest. She must also pay restitution, including $10,000 to several churches, Roseville Community Schools, and a woman who provided financial help and gifts. The sentence was based on a plea deal reached by the prosecutors and Schnuphase's lawyer, Dominic Greco. Schnuphase, formerly of Roseville, plead no contest to charges of child abuse and false pretensions in February.

Schnuphase's attorney Greco said Schnuphase was suffering from the stress of the loss of her job and "vehemently denies" drugging her son. She claims she gave him acid reflux medicine. "It was the snowball effect. She didn't feel she could get out of it," Greco said. "She was basically at the end of her rope."

Schnuphase's cousin, Patrick Kelsch, called the sentence "ridiculous" and said, "She's made a living as a con artist for years." He added, "She's always had a sinister side."

A hearing to terminate Schnuphase’s parental rights to her son will be held in April.

Scotland's oldest detainee facing attempted murder charges

A man thought to be the oldest person ever held in custody in Scotland is facing charges of attempted murder. Sylvester 'Eddie' Nowak, 98, is imprisoned in hospital for psychiatric evaluation after a court appearence; it is alleged he used a knife and axe to attack two police officers.

Nowak had been alone in his home in Scone, Perthshire on Tuesday after leaving hospital on Monday. A carer became alarmed for his well-being and summoned police. Tayside Police said in a statement two officers attended "which would be deemed appropriate. This incident happened upon their arrival and then a number of further officers attended at the scene to assist."

It is claimed Nowak attacked WPC Shona Beattie, 42, with a knife and WPC Katie Deas, 23, with both an axe and a knife. Beattie was wounded in the arm and hospitalised after an ambulance trip, and underwent surgery on Wednesday. Deas was uninjured.

Polish World War Two veteran Nowak has extreme hearing difficulty, his initial court appearance before Perth Sheriff Court delayed to move the case to a second courtroom with equipment catering for hearing aids. Two more hours of delay followed when Nowak remained unable to hear and Wednesday's hearing ultimately took place in the original room. He was helped by guards from security firm Reliance as he walked.

Nowak is an ex-prisoner of the Nazis but escaped to Italy before settling in the UK. Previously living in Dundee, he has lived in his Scone home since the 1960s. He has no relatives in Scotland. 81-year-old friend and neighbour Jim Grant paints a picture of a highly independant individual.

"Eddie keeps himself to himself... He never wanted any help and turned down all offers from the social services. He never answered the door or his phone to anyone, carers included. I had a secret knock on his window which is how he knew to let me in." Grant says all Nowak's family live in Poland.

Following the private court appearance, Sheriff Peter Hammond sent Nowak to the Murray Royal, a mental hospital, for assessment. The order lasts 28 days, and Nowak is anticipated to be back in court later.

UK police find body of missing woman and search for another; suspect in custody

Police investigating the disappearance of 22-year old Sian O'Callaghan in Swindon, England, say they have discovered her body and are searching for another. The news comes comes hours after the arrest of a 47-year-old individual for kidnap and multiple counts of murder. Police also seized a green taxi seen at the time of O'Callaghan's disappearance.

The detective leading the murder inquiry confirmed the individual taken into custody had told police where two bodies were located. Police said they had found one body and were searching for the second. Officials say O'Callaghan's family were "deeply distressed" by the developments. Police today began searching a house in Swindon, and the property was cordoned off.

"The location of two bodies has been identified to the senior investigating officer, only one body has currently been found and this is believed to be Sian O'Callaghan," Wiltshire Police said in a statement. "The second body has yet to be recovered."

O'Callaghan, an office worker, was last seen leaving a nightclub in Swindon at the weekend. Mobile phone records show she traveled in a car to a forest in the early hours of Sunday morning. Police have appealed for the public to search for her mobile phone, and have released CCTV images of her leaving the nightclub.

In a statement, her family described her as a "beautiful girl," and said they had been "so touched by the support shown by the community that we wanted to express our thanks."