Death toll from shooting incident in Russia's Izhevsk rises to 17 - Udmurtia authorities

IZHEVSK. Sept 27 (Interfax) - Eleven children and six adults died in the September 26 shooting incident in a school in the Russian city of Izhevsk, the press service of the head and the government of the internal republic of Udmurtia said on Monday.

"The information provided by the Russian Investigative Committee indicates that 17 people, among them 11 children and six adults, are dead," the press service said.

Earlier reports, which also cited the Russian Investigative Committee, put the death toll from the incident at 15, among them 11 children. Twenty-four people, including 22 children, were injured.

Artyom Kazantsev, 34, went on a shooting spree in Izhevsk's School No. 88 on Monday morning, after bursting into the school building and killing the security guard. Kazantsev later committed suicide.

A criminal case was opened on charges of the murder of two or more people committed by a socially dangerous method, including of a young child or another person known by the attacker to be in a helpless condition, and charges of the illegal possession of weapons.

The Udmurtia authorities have declared three days of mourning for the victims.