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Estonian president offers condolences to killed teacher's family, school

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Photo: Elmo Riig / Sakala

Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves offered his deepest condolences to the next of kin of the teacher killed in a school shooting in the southern regional capital Viljandi earlier in the day as well as to the school's teachers and students.

«The event is not a tragedy of one school or one city. It is the tragedy of the whole Estonia. It is the grief and shock of all of us,» Ilves said.

According to Ilves no conflict in the society, in a community or a family should end with such violence. «I sincerely ask all my fellow Estonians -- let's notice at the right time and act at the right time. Let's not look past situations when misunderstanding, anger, bitterness, physical or mental violence, sadness have appeared. Let's talk to each other, support each other, help each other. Let's hug our children who return from school today especially long,» Ilves said.

Ilves expressed hope that those whose task it is will find out all the details of Monday's tragedy.

On Monday a 15-year-old student killed 56-year-old German teacher Ene Sarapik in a school shooting in the South Estonian town of Viljandi.

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