Society

Gunman shoots policeman in south China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-06-03 18:08

GUANGZHOU - A police officer was shot and wounded by a gunman during an ongoing confrontation in south China's Guangdong province Thursday.

An armed man confronted police at about 10 am in a six-storey residential building in Baiyun District of Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, witnesses said.

A policeman was injured after the man fired at him, an officer, surnamed Liu, with the public security bureau of Baiyun, told Xinhua.

Backup police forces have arrived at the site, confining the man to a fifth floor apartment of the building by 3:30 pm.

The building has been cordoned off.

Xinhua reporters heard shootings in the building at about 4:30 pm and tear-gas smoke came out of the window where the confrontation is continuing.

Zhang Chunyan, a female resident in the area, told Xinhua that the landlord found a gun in the house rented by the man when he was collecting rent in the morning. The landlord called police, which led to the confrontation.

No more details are available so far.