At least 13 people were killed and more than dozen injured when a suspected Asian gunman armed with a high-powered rifle stormed the American Civic Center, an immigration services office, at Binghamton in western New York state, and opened fire.

Dozens of people were taken hostage and some of them were hiding in a closet and boiler room. Reports citing police sources said that at least 26 were injured.

The nationality of the gunman, who created mayhem in the Center, was not immediately known but an eye witness told WNBF television that authorities have requested a Vietnamese translator to speak with the shooter.

Television channels also said that the gunman was among the dead but the reports could not be confirmed immediately.

Eye witnesses said two persons- believed to be Asians-in plastic handcuff were taken out of the rear of the building and led to an unmarked police car but it was not clear whether the arrested included the gunman.

Some groups of people were also taken out the building and paramedics went into the building to tend the injured.

A nearby school was put in a lockdown condition and building evacuated as several law enforcement agencies converge on the building. Among them are the expert hostage negotiators and sharp shooters of the swat team.

Charles Kramer, Member City Council said it was not a terror attack and that clearly there was one gunman who may be possibly mentally unstable.

Reports said that an Asian man in his twenties who was taking citizenship test opened fire with an official indicating that a high powered rifle may have been used in the attack.

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