Gunman kills three in France

At least three people were killed yesterday when a man began shooting at pedestrians from the window of a block of flats in the northern French town of Douchy-les-Mines.

One of the victims appeared to have been shot in the head. The two others were reported lying motionless, and apparently lifeless, on the ground in front of the building from where the shots were fired.

Police have cordoned off the area. According to the last report, the sniper was still at large and the bodies of the victims had not been recovered.