US congresswoman shot in gun rampage

Federal judge John Roll and a nine-year-old girl were among those gunned down when the assailant fired indiscriminately with an automatic weapon outside a supermarket in Tucson, the state's second largest city.

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, a rising Democrat party star, was in a critical condition after being shot in the head at point blank range.

The 40-year-old Democrat, who was re-elected to her third term in November, was hosting a "Congress On Your Corner" event at a Safeway store in north-west Tucson when the gunman ran up and opened fire, according to eyewitnesses. The suspect fled the scene but was tackled by a bystander before being taken into custody. Some reports suggested that the suspect, who is 22, was shot and injured as he fled.

He has been arrested in connection with the shooting and the FBI and local law enforcement agencies are now investigating the attack.

The shooting prompted an outpouring of sympathy from around the country. President Barack Obama called the shooting "an unspeakable tragedy" and said such "a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society." Obama sent his FBI director to oversee the investigation, confirming the nine-year-old girl and US federal judge Roll were among those killed.

Speaking at the White House, he said Giffords was a friend, who was "warm and caring".

He said: "As many of you are aware, earlier today a number of people were shot in Tucson, Arizona, including several who were meeting at a supermarket with a congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords.

"We are still assembling all the facts but we know that Representative Giffords was one of the victims.

"She's currently in a hospital in the area and she is battling for her life.

"We also know that five people lost their lives in this tragedy, among them were a federal judge, John Roll, who has served America's legal system for almost 40 years, and a young girl who was barely nine years old."

He added that a suspect – identified later as Jared Loughner – was in custody, but it was not clear what had provoked the attack. Obama said a comprehensive investigation was under way.

Federal law enforcement officials were last night poring over captured versions of a MySpace page belonging to Loughner and over a Youtube video linked to him. The MySpace page, which was removed within minutes of the gunman being identified by US officials, included a mysterious "Goodbye friends" message published hours before the shooting which exhorted his friends: "Please don't be mad at me".

Paying tribute to the congresswoman, Obama continued: "She's not only an extraordinary public servant but she's also somebody who is warm and caring. She is well liked by her colleagues and well liked by her constituents.

"Her husband Mark Kelly is a Navy captain and one of America's valiant astronauts."

He added: "It's a tragedy for Arizona and a tragedy for our entire country. What Americans do in times of tragedy is to come together and support each other." Kelly was en route to Tucson from Houston last night, where he has been preparing to command the last scheduled space shuttle mission, which is supposed to launch in April.

Giffords was among several critically injured patients who underwent emergency surgery yesterday evening at the city's University Medical Centre. Medical director Dr Peter Rhee said despite Giffords' injuries he was "as optimistic as I can be in this kind of situation" that the congresswoman would survive.

"The congresswoman is not deceased, she's in a critical condition, the neurosurgeons have finished operating on her and I can tell you at the current time period, I'm very optimistic about recovery."

Giffords was "following commands" but was under anaesthetic after surgery.

She had been shot "through" with the bullet passing through her brain.

Newly elected House speaker John Boehner said: "I am horrified by the senseless attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and members of her staff.

"An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve. Acts and threats of violence against public officials have no place in our society. Our prayers are with Congresswoman Giffords, her staff, all who were injured and their families. This is a sad day for our country."

Re-elected in the 2 November election, Giffords has focused on immigration reform, military issues, stem cell research and alternative energy while serving in Congress. She first won election to Congress amid a wave of Democratic victories in 2006. In November, she edged out a conservative Tea Party favourite.

Giffords tweeted shortly before the shooting, describing her "Congress on Your Corner" event: "My 1st Congress on Your Corner starts now. Please stop by to let me know what is on your mind or tweet me later."

Yesterday's shooting came amid a highly charged political environment that has seen several threats against politicians over controversial healthcare reform but nothing that reached the point of actual violence.

A San Francisco man upset with House speaker Nancy Pelosi's support of healthcare reform pleaded guilty to threatening the Democratic congresswoman and her family, calling her directly on 25 March and threatening to destroy her northern California home if she voted for the reform.

In July, a California man engaged in a shootout with highway patrol officers after planning an attack on the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and another non-profit group. The man said he wanted to "start a revolution" by killing people at the ACLU and the Tides Foundation.

Sarah Palin map put Giffords 'in crosshairs'

One theory about the gunman's motivation is that Gabrielle Giffords was featured on Sarah Palin's infamous "crosshairs" map, which targeted legislators who voted for Obama's healthcare bill. At the time, it was criticised as an incitement to violence.

Giffords, a third-term legislator, supported Obama's healthcare reform bill. This earned her a place on the map, posted on the internet by the former Republican vice-presidential candidate's Political Action Committee, that literally put Democrats in the crosshairs last spring after the bill passed.

"Don't retreat, instead - RELOAD!" was how Palin introduced the map to her Twitter followers. Days later, a vandal smashed the glass door of Giffords' Tucson office. Giffords' father told the New York Post that members of the Tea Party - the Republican party offshoot - "threatened" his daughter.

Giffords' Tea Party opponent in the 2010 election, Jesse Kelly, went even further with the violent rhetoric. Kelly's campaign held an event called "Get on Target for Victory in November." Description: "Help remove Gabrielle Giffords from office. Shoot a fully automatic M16 with Jesse Kelly."

Giffords' shooting underscores the fact that, as US commentator Matt Yglesias said, "gun imagery and electoral politics don't mix".