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Potential terrorist attack on US soldiers

A man mourns Photo; Twitter

A man mourns Photo; Twitter

A potential act of terrorism has claimed the lives of four US soldiers in two separate attacks in the state of Tennessee.

US media have named the lone gunman as 24-year-old Mohammod Youssuf Abdulazeez.

He was shot dead after first attacking a reservist base and then a recruitment centre, which were kilometres apart.

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A man mourns at the site of potential terror attack in Tennessee. Photo; Twitter

At least two other people, a naval officer and a police officer, were reportedly injured in the shootings.

President Barack Obama has expressed grief at the news.

“It is a heartbreaking circumstance for these individuals who have served our country with great valour to be killed in this fashion,” he said from the White House.

The families “have our full support,” President Obama said.

US federal prosecutor in the Tennessee area, Bill Killian, said the incident was being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism.

But an FBI agent urged caution, saying the incident may yet be “a simple criminal act”.

A place of business, a college and other facilities near the shooting sites have been placed in lockdown.

The incident served as an ugly reminder of other deadly shootings at US military installations, including a 2009 rampage at Fort Hood that left 13 dead and a 2013 attack at the Navy Yard in Washington that left 12 dead.

Local resident Erica Wright reportedly witnessed the shooting at the recruiting centre through the window of a nearby hair salon.

“We heard one pop, really loud pop. So we went to the door to see what it was,” Wright told CNN.

“We saw a guy in a silver Mustang just unloading on the naval recruiting place.”

Wright said she watched in horror as the man reloaded his gun and opened fire again. He then backed up his car, pulled up to another part of the recruiting centre and started shooting again.

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