Gunman releases hostages at US school

WASHINGTON - Twenty-four hostages held by a gun-toting student at a high school in Wisconsin have been released Monday night, broadcaster CNN reported quoting police.

Police chief Jeffery Skorik was quoted as saying that the 23 students and one woman teacher were safe. The gunman had released five of the hostages earlier.

The young male took over a classroom at Marinette High School as classes drew to a close and was communicating with police through a teacher.

Police said there was no clarity yet on why he took the hostages.

According to Skorik, the student had no previous run-ins with the law and police had no idea about the motive.

They said he was a student at the school, but declined to name him. Officials said they believed he was armed with one handgun and was acting alone.