Gunman shot dead at US college

Police surrounded the college building

A man who took a class hostage at a college in the US state of Tennessee has been shot dead by police.

Police said they stormed the classroom at the State Community College in Dyersburg after hearing gunshots.

The gunman, 26-year-old Harold Kilpatrick, had left a suicide note saying he wanted "to kill some people and die today".

Kilpatrick said he was a member of al-Qaeda and that he had spoken to Osama Bin Laden - claims dismissed by police.

Hostages injured

Kilpatrick, armed with a pistol and a knife, made no demands except for food and drink during the siege.

Attempts to reason with him failed.

"Negotiations started and then they broke down and he began to fire. My people went in and took him down. The situation is over," said Dyersburg Police Chief Bobby Williamson.

Two of the hostages were injured in the shooting though it is not clear whether by Kilpatrick or by police.