A gunman attacked a school Tuesday morning in the Russian city of Kazan, killing eight people — seven eighth-grade students and a teacher — and leaving 21 others hospitalized with wounds, Russian officials said.
Russia_School_Shooting_61184 Medics and friends help a woman board an ambulance at a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that some numbers of people have been killed and four wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin)
AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin
Russia_School_Shooting_43612 A Russian Rosguardia (National Guard) soldier guards an area as medics and police prepare to move the bodies of students who were killed at a school in a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that some numbers of people have been killed and four wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin)
AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin
Russia_School_Shooting_81942 Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, center, and members of the cabinet attend a minute of silence for the students and a teacher that were killed after a gunman attacked a school in the Russian city of Kazan, in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. A gunman attacked a school Tuesday morning in the Russian city of Kazan, sending students running out of the building as smoke poured from its windows. At least eight people were killed in the attack several students and a teacher and dozens others were hospitalized, Russian officials said. (Dmitry Astakhov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Dmitry Astakhov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
Russia_School_Shooting_65420 A girl lays flowers near a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian officials say a gunman attacked a school in the city of Kazan and Russian officials say several people have been killed. Officials said the dead in Tuesday's shooting include students, a teacher and a school worker. Authorities also say over 20 others have been hospitalized with wounds. (AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin)
AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin
Russia_School_Shooting_80955 People stand in line to put flowers in memory of killed school students in Kazan at the Representation of the Republic of Tatarstan in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian officials say a gunman attacked a school in the city of Kazan and Russian officials say several people have been killed. Officials said the dead in Tuesday's shooting include students, a teacher and a school worker. Authorities also say over 20 others have been hospitalized with wounds. (AP Photo/Denis Kaminev)
AP Photo/Denis Kaminev
Russia_School_Shooting_32329 Russian police special unit walk near the scene at a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that several people have been killed and wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (Dmitry Lebedev, Kommersant Publishing House via AP)
Dmitry Lebedev, Kommersant Publishing House via AP
Russia_School_Shooting_12303 Ambulances and police cars and a truck are parked at a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that several people have been killed and wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin)
AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin
Russia_School_Shooting_80538 An ambulance and police trucks are parked at a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that several people have been killed and wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin)
AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin
Russia_School_Shooting_63461 Firefighters walk past ambulances and police cars and a truck parked at a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that several people have been killed and wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin)
AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin
APTOPIX_Russia_School_Shooting_61184 Medics and friends help a woman board an ambulance at a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that several people have been killed and four wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin)
AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin
APTOPIX_Russia_School_Shooting_12303 Ambulances and police cars and a truck are parked at a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that several people have been killed and wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin)
AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin
Russia_School_Shooting_16715 In this photo released by Tatarstan Presidential Press Service, Russian police special unit near the scene at a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that several people have been killed and wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (Tatarstan Presidential Press Service via AP)
Tatarstan Presidential Press Service via AP
Russia_School_Shooting_23827 In this photo released by Tatarstan Presidential Press Service, a Russian police officer works at the scene at a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that several people have been killed and wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (Tatarstan Presidential Press Service via AP)
Tatarstan Presidential Press Service via AP
Russia_School_Shooting_00925 A Russian emergency employee and a woman try to comfort a couple on their way to an ambulance at a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that some numbers of people have been killed and four wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin)
AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin
Russia_School_Shooting_99395 In this image taken from video, damaged windows of a school after a shooting in Kazan, about 700 kilometres (434 miles) east of Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. A gunman attacked a school Tuesday morning in the Russian city of Kazan, killing eight people - seven eighth-grade students and a teacher - and leaving 21 others hospitalized with wounds, Russian officials said. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Russia_School_Shooting_52878 Medics and police prepare to move bodies of students who were killed at a school in a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that some numbers of people have been killed and four wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin)
AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin
Russia_School_Shooting_60609 A woman reacts as she stands at a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that several people have been killed and wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin)
AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin
Russia_School_Shooting_54591 Ambulances and police cars and a truck are parked at a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that several people have been killed and wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin)
AP Photo/Roman Kruchinin
Russia_School_Shooting_29763 In this image taken from video, police officers guard near the gates of a school after a shooting, in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that several people have been killed and wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Russia_School_Shooting_01878 In this image taken from video, an ambulance and police trucks are parked at a school after a shooting, in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that several people have been killed and wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
APTOPIX_Russia_School_Shooting_87289 People place lit candles on the ground to form the number 175 after a shooting at school No.175 in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian officials say a gunman attacked a school in the city of Kazan and Russian officials say several people have been killed. Officials said the dead in Tuesday's shooting include students, a teacher and a school worker. Authorities also say over 20 others have been hospitalized with wounds. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky
Russia_School_Shooting_00928 People stand near a school with toys and flowers after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian officials say a gunman attacked a school in the city of Kazan and Russian officials say several people have been killed. Officials said the dead in Tuesday's shooting include students, a teacher and a school worker. Authorities also say over 20 others have been hospitalized with wounds. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky
Russia_School_Shooting_10708 Children pray near a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian officials say a gunman attacked a school in the city of Kazan and Russian officials say several people have been killed. Officials said the dead in Tuesday's shooting include students, a teacher and a school worker. Authorities also say over 20 others have been hospitalized with wounds. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky
Russia_School_Shooting_50507 A teddy bear and flowers with the poster reading "11.05.21 School # 175 Mourn" in memory of killed school students in Kazan at the Representation of the Republic of Tatarstan in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian officials say a gunman attacked a school in the city of Kazan and Russian officials say several people have been killed. Officials said the dead in Tuesday's shooting include students, a teacher and a school worker. Authorities also say over 20 others have been hospitalized with wounds. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko
Russia_School_Shooting_52717 A woman cries near a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Writing on the wall reads "We grieve". Russian officials say a gunman attacked a school in the city of Kazan and Russian officials say several people have been killed. Officials said the dead in Tuesday's shooting include students, a teacher and a school worker. Authorities also say over 20 others have been hospitalized with wounds. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky
Russia_School_Shooting_57431 People react at a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian officials say a gunman attacked a school in the city of Kazan and Russian officials say several people have been killed. Officials said the dead in Tuesday's shooting include students, a teacher and a school worker. Authorities also say over 20 others have been hospitalized with wounds. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky
Russia_School_Shooting_03680 People lay flowers near a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian officials say a gunman attacked a school in the city of Kazan and Russian officials say several people have been killed. Officials said the dead in Tuesday's shooting include students, a teacher and a school worker. Authorities also say over 20 others have been hospitalized with wounds. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky
Russia_School_Shooting_51863 Security forces near the scene at a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that several people have been killed and wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (Max Zareckiy via AP)
Max Zareckiy via AP
Russia_School_Shooting_40186 A member of security forces near the scene at a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that several people have been killed and wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (Max Zareckiy via AP)
Max Zareckiy via AP
Russia_School_Shooting_15666 Security forces near the scene at a school after a shooting in Kazan, Russia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Russian media report that several people have been killed and wounded in a school shooting in the city of Kazan. Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency reported the shooting took place Tuesday morning, citing emergency services. (Max Zareckiy via AP)
MOSCOW (AP) — A gunman launched an attack on a school in the Russian city of Kazan that left at least nine people dead Tuesday — including seven youngsters — and sent students hiding under their desks or running out of the building.
At least 21 others were hospitalized, six in extremely grave condition, authorities said.
The attacker, identified only as a 19-year-old, was arrested, officials said. They gave no immediate details on a motive.
But Russian media said the gunman was a former student at the school who called himself “a god” on his account on the messaging app Telegram and promised to “kill a large amount of biomass” on the morning of the shooting.
“I was in the classroom when a man with a firearm broke into our classroom and just started shooting,” said student Akhmat Khairulin. He said students hid under their desks at their teacher’s direction, though one jumped out of a window.
Attacks on schools are rare in Russia, and President Vladimir Putin reacted by ordering the head of the country’s National Guard to revise regulations on the types of weapons allowed for civilian use.
Four boys and three girls, all eighth-graders, died, as well as a teacher and another school employee, said Rustam Minnikhanov, governor of the Tatarstan republic, where Kazan is the capital.
The teacher who died, Elvira Ignatyeva, had been an English instructor at the school for four years, thye state news agency Tass reported.
Footage released by Russian media showed students dressed in black and white running out of the building. Another video depicted shattered windows, a stream of smoke coming out of one, and the sound of gunfire. Dozens of ambulances lined up at the entrance.
Russian media said while some students were able to escape, others were trapped inside during the ordeal.
“The terrorist has been arrested, 19 years old. A firearm is registered in his name. Other accomplices haven’t been established. An investigation is underway,” Minnikhanov said.
Authorities said the 21 hospitalized included 18 children.
Authorities announced a day of mourning on Wednesday and canceled all classes in Kazan schools. Authorities tightened security at all schools in the city of about 1.2 million people, 430 miles (700 kilometers) east of Moscow.
The deadliest school attack in Russia took place in 2004 in the city of Beslan, when Islamic militants took more 1,000 people hostage for several days. The siege ended in gunfire and explosions, leaving 334 dead, more than half of them children.
In 2018, a teenager killed 20 people at his vocational school before killing himself in Kerch, a city in the Russian-annexed peninsula of Crimea. In the wake of that attack, Putin ordered authorities to tighten control over gun ownership. But most of the proposed legislative changes were turned down by the parliament or the government, the Kommersant newspaper reported.
Russian lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein said on Telegram that the suspect in the Kazan attack received a permit for a shotgun less than two weeks ago and that the school had no security aside from a panic button. Authorities did not specify what kind of gun the attacker used.
Authorities in Tatarstan ordered checks on all gun owners in the region.
Putin extended condolences to the families of the victims and ordered the government to give them all necessary assistance. Russian officials promised to pay families 1 million rubles (roughly $13,500) each and give 200,000 to 400,000 rubles ($2,700-$5,400) to the wounded.
The Kremlin sent a plane with doctors and medical equipment to Kazan, and the country’s health and education ministers headed to the region.
