First image of children who escaped school shooting

Latest reports say 27 people have been killed, including many children, in a shooting attack at a primary school in the US state of Connecticut.

This is the first image of children being led away from the tragic scene.

The Associated Press say at least 18 children are among the dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.The school is currently on lockdown as police investigate. Multiple witnesses say the school's principal was killed, another teacher was shot.

All schools in the area have been put on high alert. The person behind the shooting apparently had two guns, someone with knowledge of the shooting told The Associated Press. Unconfirmed media reports say the suspect fired about 100 bullets. A law enforcement official in Washington said the attacker was a 20-year-old man with ties to the school and that one of the guns was a .223-caliber rifle.

Three people have reportedly been taken to nearby Danbury hospital. One witness told News 8 she saw 1 child had a bloody face, another with a hand injury. Local media are reporting that one child was carried from the school by a police officer, apparently seriously wounded. Other injuries are reported, and emergency personnel have set up triage facilities. Local media The Newtown Bee also shared what appears to be the first image from the scene, and shows a line of children being led through a car park by police officers.

According to people at the scene police are questioning a man who was led out of the woods in handcuffs.