Amish killings school demolished

The school was brought down in just a few minutes

Workers have demolished the school in Pennsylvania where five Amish girls were shot dead by a local truck driver on 2 October.

The workers brought in machinery to begin the demolition before dawn. The bell house and walls were brought down in just a few minutes.

The Amish community would cover the site with grass, local fire officials said.

The girls were gunned down by Charles Roberts, who then killed himself.

Five more girls were injured. They are still thought to be in hospital, but no more information is being given on their conditions at the request of their families.

Pasture

The West Nickel Mines Amish School in the village of Paradise had been boarded up since the shootings. Classes have been moved to a community farm.

Local officials said the Amish wanted to bring "closure" and create a pasture on the site.

Mike Hart, a spokesman for the Bart Fire Company, told Associated Press: "It's going to be razed and topsoil brought in and green grass planted."

Naomi Rose Ebersole, seven; Marian Fisher, 13; the Miller sisters, Lena, seven, and Mary Liz, eight; and Anna Mae Stoltzfus, 12, died in the attack.

Roberts, a 32-year-old milk-tanker driver, killed himself at the end of the shooting spree.

In a final phone call, Roberts told his wife he had molested two young members of his own family 20 years ago.

In suicide notes he also made references to another incident 20 years ago, and said he had been haunted by dreams of repeating his actions.