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Body found after 12 killed in northern England shooting spree

London, England (CNN) -- At least 12 people have been killed and many more injured after a gunman -- believed to be a local taxi driver -- went on a shooting spree through three small towns in the English county of Cumbria on Wednesday.

After a large scale search, Cumbria police found the body of the suspected gunman, 52-year-old Derrick Bird, in a wooded area of Boot, a village in the Lake District, a popular tourist area.

Police named Bird as a suspect soon after the first shooting mid-morning on Wednesday in the Irish Sea port town of Whitehaven.

"Our focus is now on the movements of Mr. Bird this morning," authorities said. "Our thoughts are with the families in these tragic times. We are asking for any witnesses to come forward and help us with our investigation into the events of this morning."

In his first parliamentary question time since becoming British prime minister, David Cameron said the government would do whatever it could to help the communities affected.

"When lives and communities are suddenly shattered in this way, our thoughts should be with all those caught up in these tragic events, especially the families and friends of those killed or injured," he said.

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Armed police patrols and dog squads were dispatched in the hunt for the gunman after the first shots were fired at 10:35 a.m. (5:35 a.m. ET) in Whitehaven.

Police issued a photo of the suspected shooter, Derrick Bird, and urged members of the public to stay indoors until further notice.

More shots were fired in the small towns of Seascale and Egremont, with officers attempting to track the suspect on land and by air while ambulance crews attended the victims. Footage from one of the shooting scenes showed a covered body lying on a street.

"Police are working to identify the individuals and inform relatives," Cumbria police said. "Ambulance crews are in attendance across the area."

Peter Leder, who says he is a friend of Bird's, told CNN he spoke to Bird last night and Bird told him, "You won't see me again."

Bird was initially driving a dark gray or silver Citroen Picasso, but police later said he had abandoned his car in the area of Boot, in the Lake District, and was traveling on foot.

Soon afterwards police said they had found a body in a wooded area. Authorities seized a gun from the scene where the body was found.

The Lake District is a scenic rural retreat in northern England which is popular with walkers, hikers and tourists.

John Bevir, a reporter for CNN affiliate ITV, described nearby Whitehaven as a sleepy seaside town. "Things like this just don't happen here," he said. "Well, they didn't, until this morning."

Leder said Bird has been an independent taxi driver in Whitehaven for more than 20 years and described him as "an outgoing, well-known guy, who everyone liked."

Bird was divorced several years ago and has two children, both boys, who have moved away from home, he said. Bird is very close to his mother, who is very ill in a local nursing home, Leder said.

He said his friend enjoyed scuba diving, went on several diving trips abroad and practised regularly at the Whitehaven swimming baths.

The vehicle police said Bird was driving at the time of the shootings was his regular taxi cab, Leder said.

A police hotline was set up for concerned relatives of those involved.

Lady Gaga may have taken things too far this time by pretending to be murdered by a crazed killer on stage in Manchester - just hours after a horrific shooting spree across northern England.

Thousands of people at the concert looked on in horror as she was ambushed by a man dressed in black and fake blood spurted down her chest.

It was a routine performance for the singer but the scene on stage at the MEN Arena came after the mass slaughter by cab driver Derrick Bird, who killed 12 and injured 11 others in a gun rampage across Cumbria region before taking his own life.



http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/mus ... -xi0u.html

dales wrote:When will this disgusting trollop's 15minutes of fame be up?

Reality Bytes wrote:
she is nothing more than a Madonna clone with a lot less talent

This anger with other people in general can lead to a focus on those who most symbolise for the gunman the enemy on whom he must wreak revenge. Before James Huberty shot 41 people, killing 22, in a McDonald’s in San Diego in 1984, he had said that “society had its chance”. People in McDonald’s symbolised society.

Did “the public” whom Derrick Bird ferried around Cumbria come to represent all that was wrong with his world? Are there other taxi drivers who harbour a secret hatred of people whom they feel demeaned and insulted them? Bird had been knocked unconscious by a fare-dodging passenger in 2007. Did this contribute to a growing, hidden fury with all those whom he saw as against him?

Well worth a read.

Reality Bytes wrote:

dales wrote:When will this disgusting trollop's 15minutes of fame be up?

Not soon enough as far as I'm concerned - she is nothing more than a Madonna clone with a lot less talent - I can't stand her.

loCAtek wrote:

Reality Bytes wrote:

dales wrote:When will this disgusting trollop's 15minutes of fame be up?

Not soon enough as far as I'm concerned - she is nothing more than a Madonna clone with a lot less talent - I can't stand her.

Is there a way to have less talent than Madonna?