A gunman opened fire on people in the Ukrainian capital Kiev on Saturday, killing “several” people and wounding others, the city’s mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
He said authorities had launched a “special operation” to capture the attacker, who he said had entered a supermarket.
“The shooting resulted in injuries and multiple deaths,” Klitschko said.
Television footage from the scene showed police taking cover in the shopping mall where the supermarket was located while gunfire continued.
People standing nearby were taken away from the spot.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klimenko later announced that the gunman was killed during an attempt to arrest him.
“The gunman was killed during an arrest in Kiev,” Klymenko said on social media. He said the suspect “had taken people hostage and fired at police officers during the arrest.”
“The number of victims is being determined. There are killed and wounded,” Klimenko said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at least five people were killed in the attack. “My condolences to the families and loved ones,” he said.
more to come…