Etching Hill primary school

17 shot in their own playground

Seventeen school children from Etching Hill primary school in Rugeley were shot at, while playing in their school playground, with a BB gun. The children aged between 7-11 were shot by pistol bullets not far away from the playground from a near by bush. The fifteen boys and two girls were victims of this unwarned attack. They suffered severe bruise to their heads, arms and hands.

An accused 12 year old boy has been arrested. Inspector Juliet Prince, from Staffordshire police, said: “it serves as yet another warning about the dangers of children having access to BB guns and air weapons”.

Kidnapped diplomats fly home.

A group of British embassy staff kidnapped in a remote part of northern Ethiopia more than a week ago are "safe and secure", Ethiopia's foreign minister said today.

"Last evening, I heard that they are safe and secure. They are in good condition," Seyoum Mesfin told reporters in Ethiopia's Afar region, near where the group was abducted.

The car where the kidnapped were held

He added: "We don't even know yet who the kidnappers are."

The minister ruled out any rescue attempt, saying: "Their security could be compromised if military options were to be utilized.