PARKLAND, FLORIDA: A 19-year-old gunman opened fire on Wednesday at a Florida high school he had previously been expelled from, killing 17 people before he was arrested by police, authorities said.
The violence erupted shortly before dismissal at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, about 45 miles (72 km) north of Miami. Live television footage showed students streaming out of the building as dozens of police and emergency services personnel swarmed the area.
The gunman was identified as Nikolas Cruz, who previously attended the school and was expelled for unspecified disciplinary reasons, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said at a news briefing hours later.
“It’s a horrific situation,” Broward Country Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie told reporters separately.
The gunman surrendered to police without a struggle, Israel said.
“It’s catastrophic,” he said. “There really are no words.”
Twelve of the dead were killed inside the school building, two others just outside, one more on the street and two other victims died of their injuries at a hospital, Israel said. He said the victims comprised a mixture of students and adults.
It was the 18th shooting in a US school so far this year, according to gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety. That tally includes suicides and incidents when no one was injured, as well as the January incident when a 15-year-old gunman killed two students at a Benton, Kentucky, high school.
More than five years have passed since a gunman killed 20 first graders and six educators in Newtown, Connecticut, stirring the long US debate about gun rights, which are protected by the Second Amendment of the US Constitution.
Ex-student kills 17 in shooting spree at Florida high school
Ex-student kills 17 in shooting spree at Florida high school
Al-Falih meets Chilean ministers to explore investment opportunities
RIYADH: Investment opportunities between Saudi Arabia and Chile are set to get a boost as officials from both sides convened for a roundtable meeting in Santiago on Saturday.
Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih engaged in substantive dialogue with various Chilean ministers and government officials to explore and amplify mutual financing possibilities.
The meeting underscored the necessity of cementing economic ties between the Kingdom and Chile in bolstering the private sectors of both countries and fostering partnerships in areas of shared interest.
Al-Falih met with Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveran, Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism Nicolas Grau and Minister of Public Works Jessica Lopez Saffie.
The meetings are part of the Saudi Ministry of Investment and its delegation’s intention to promote bilateral trade by introducing the Kingdom’s public and private sectors to Latin American countries to explore investment opportunities.
Al-Falih also signed a memorandum of understanding with Argentina’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship on Saturday.
The agreement aims to boost cooperation between both parties to facilitate direct investments.
Furthermore, Al-Falih discussed several topics with Argentina’s minister around enhancing partnerships and collaborative investments in quality projects.
On Thursday, Al-Falih led a 60-member delegation to an investment forum in Uruguay’s capital Montevideo.
These initiatives are in line with the aim of the Saudi Ministry of Investment to attract quality investments that will empower sector growth, develop policies and improve the overall access to services through partnerships between the public and private sectors.
The ministry also endeavors to bolster collaborative initiatives with the private sector to drive social and economic transformation within the Kingdom under the strategic framework of Vision 2030.
It underscored its role as a facilitator and catalyst by enabling the involvement of both domestic and international private sectors to fuel economic growth.
Additionally, it emphasized its commitment to assisting these sectors in navigating and surmounting any challenges they may encounter in their interactions with pertinent bodies, both locally and globally.
