Several people were injured in a shooting at a shopping center in South Carolina, US police said.
The Columbia Police Department said at least 12 people were injured in the incident in downtown Colombia, about 10 miles northwest of the state capital, at about 2:30 p.m. local time.
Colombian police chief William Holbrooke said 10 people had been shot, while two others were injured in a collision caused by the shooting.
He added that two of the victims were in critical but stable condition and no one had died.
Image: The number of injured is still unknown
Television news shows that police blocked an exit ramp from a nearby highway.
Colombia’s deputy police chief, Melron Kelly, told the State Gazette that there were no reports of deaths.
He added that eight people had been taken for medical treatment and employees were “going from store to store and closet to closet, looking for someone with a weapon”.
“Officers are evacuating the mall and taking people to safety,” police added.
Earlier, officials said they were responding to “shots” in the center.
They said: “We have confirmed that people were injured during the incident and are receiving medical treatment. The degree of injuries [are] unknown at this time. “
Image: Police respond to “shots” at the Columbiana Center. Photo: Google Street View
The Columbia Police Department later advised the people: “If you have to take relatives, the reunion area is 320 Columbiana Drive – Fairfield Inn.
“We are working on a transit option to take people who may still be close to the mall to the reunification zone.”
They added that “law enforcement teams have strategically made sure that the Colombia Center is cleansed.”
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