(RTTNews) - Five people were killed when a gunman went on the rampage in the US-administered Northern Mariana Islands in the western Pacific Friday, reports said.

The gunman first opened fire in the territory's main island of Saipan, killing two young men, both local residents, and two children under the age of 5.

He then went to a popular tourist site and shot a group of tourists, before committing suicide. Eight people were injured when the gunman fired a barrage of bullets from his van. Most of the wounded are South Koreans, including two children.

Governor Benigno R Fitial said schools in the island were closed following the incident.
Public Safety spokesman Jason Tarkong said the attacker is a contract worker from Asia.

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is linked politically to the United States.

Occupying a strategic region of the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of fifteen islands about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines.

Its economy relies largely on tourism.

by RTT Staff Writer

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