'27 dead' in Connecticut primary school shooting

As many as 27 people have been killed, including many children, in a shooting attack at a primary school in the US state of Connecticut, US media say.

At least 18 children are among the dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, the Associated Press reported.

State police spokesman Paul Vance said the gunman died at the scene - but would not confirm the number of deaths.

If confirmed, Newtown would be the second-deadliest US shooting, after 32 people died at Virginia Tech in 2007.

Governor Dannel Malloy is meeting the families of the victims, a spokesman said, and is expected to visit the school later in the day.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters that US President Barack Obama had been informed of the incident and was receiving regular updates.

- BBC.co.uk