Police Chief Joseph Zikuski of Binghamton said on Saturday that there was "no indication whatsoever" of terrorism involved in the shooting Friday morning that left 14 people dead in the city.
"As far as we know, there is absolutely no indication whatsoever that there is any type of terrorist activity in any way involved in this," Zikuski told a press conference.
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Police Chief Joseph Zikuski of Binghamton (R) replys to questions at a press conference in Binghamton, New York, April 4, 2009, a day after a shooting rampage that left 14 people dead at the American Civic Association in Binghamton. Joseph Zikuski said here Saturday that there was "no indication whatsoever" of terrorism involved in the shooting Friday morning in the city. [Shen Hong/Xinhua]
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The police chief's denial came after press reports that a Pakistani Taliban militant leader had claimed responsibility for the massacre at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, some 189 miles northwest of New York City.
A lone gunman identified by Zikuski as 41-year-old Jiverly Wong killed 13 people at the American Civic Association building before taking his own life.
Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan described the shooting as "a tragedy that affects many different people from many different countries and their families and friends."
There have been inquires from nine different countries and two different consulates, Ryan told the press conference.
Authorities are still in the process of identifying the victims and a full list of the victims could be released before the end of the day, Ryan said.
One Chinese student was among the wounded in the shooting, according to officials with the Chinese Consulate-general in New York, who refrained from further identifying the individual upon his request.
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Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan (front) speaks at a press conference in Binghamton, New York, April 4, 2009, a day after a shooting rampage that left 14 people dead at the American Civic Association in Binghamton. [Shen Hong/Xinhua]
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The student, who sustained two gunshot wounds, one on his arm and the other his leg, is in stable condition following surgery at a local hospital.
The United States, which leads the world in private gun ownership, sees about 30,000 people get killed a year due to gun- related violence.
The press conference in Binghamton proceeded against the backdrop of another shooting incident in Pittsburg in neighboring Pennsylvania that left at least police officers dead.
Authorities are still trying to establish the motive behind Wong's shooting spree, but Binghamton police chief Zikuski said the gunman had been a student at the American Civic Association and was very upset about being ridiculed for his poor English.
