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Gunman kills 22

SYDNEY: Up to 22 people were killed on Sunday when a gunman opened fire on a group of people at the Port Arthur historic site in the southern Australian island state of Tasmania, Australian Broadcasting Corp radio reported.

"We've had a gunman run amok on the Port Arthur historic site," police media officer Geoff Easton said.

"At this moment we have 12 confirmed dead and possibly 22. There are a further 15 injured," Easton was quoted as saying by ABC radio.

"At the moment we have a hostage and siege situation," he said. Further details were not immediately available.

Port Arthur is a former penal settlement 100 km (62 miles) southeast of the state capital of Hobart.-Reuter