INTERNATIONAL: A man has shot eight students and wounded at least 10 others at Russia’s Perm State University, about 800km out of Moscow. Perm is one of the oldest universities in the country.

According to local media reports, teachers and students had to lock their classrooms and hide while the man opened fire through the University’s halls. Some students could be seen jumping out of their classroom windows to escape.

Police have apprehended the gunman. He has been identified only as a “male student”, although it is not known if he is a student of Perm State University itself. A murder investigation has been opened. The death toll is expected to rise.

This is the second mass shooting in Russia this year. Back in May, nine people died and 20 others were injured when a gunman opened fire at a school in the city of Kazan, prompting President Vladimir Putin to call for a tightening of gun laws. The Russian government already has strict laws in place, allowing civilian gun ownership, but only after psychological tests before licensing for hunting and sports firearms are granted.