World leaders express shock over latest US shooting

World leaders expressed shock and horror after a gunman massacred 20 small children and six teachers on Friday in the US state of Connecticut, in one of the worst school shootings in history.

“I would like to express my shock at the tragic shooting at the school in Connecticut today,” European Union diplomacy chief Catherine Ashton said.

The head of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso spoke of his “deep shock and horror” upon hearing of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, which he called a “terrible tragedy”.

“Young lives full of hope have been destroyed,” he said in a statement.

Local media said that the shooter, reported to be a young man who picked off his victims with unusual accuracy, began in the kindergarten section where he killed his teacher mother and her class, then moved on.

The child victims were reported to be aged between five and ten.

“I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear about today’s horrific shooting,” British Prime Minister David Cameron said.