President Bush at Virginia Tech talking about shooting

(17 Apr 2007) SHOTLIST 1. US President George W. Bush walking into auditorium and approaching podium, audience applauding 2. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W Bush, US President: "Laura and I have come to Blacksburg today with hearts full of sorrow. This is a day of mourning for the Virginia Tech community and it is a day of sadness for our entire nation. We've come to express our sympathy. In this time of anguish I hope you know that people all over this country are thinking about you, and asking God to provide comfort for all who have been affected. Yesterday began like any other day: students woke up and they grabbed their backpacks and they headed for class. And soon the day took a dark turn. The students and faculty barricading themselves in classrooms and dormitories, confused, terrified and deeply worried. By the end of the morning, it was the worst day of violence on a college campus in American history and for many of you here today it was the worst day of your lives." 3. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W Bush, US President: "May God bless you, may God bless and keep the souls of the lost and may His love touch all those who suffer and grieve." 4. Bush leaving podium, audience applauding STORYLINE: US President George W. Bush said on Tuesday that he prays for comfort for those victimised by the "dark turn" of the day at Virginia Tech that turned into the nation's deadliest shooting spree. "Laura and I have come to Blacksburg today with hearts full of sorrow," he said in six-minute remarks at a convocation on the campus where 32 people were gunned down in two separate attacks the day before. "This is a day of mourning for the Virginia Tech community and it is a day of sadness for our entire nation," Bush said. "In this time of anguish, I hope you know that people all over this country are thinking about you and asking God to provide comfort for all who have been affected." Before flying to the tragedy-stricken university in southwestern Virginia, Bush also ordered flags flown at half staff and issued a written proclamation in honour of those killed and wounded. Speaking to a sombre basketball arena packed with students and others, many wearing orange short-sleeved Virginia Tech T-shirts, the president encouraged grieving students to reach out for help. Quoting Scripture, he told those angered by the killings not to be overcome by evil. "May God bless you, may God bless and keep the souls of the lost and may His love touch all those who suffer and grieve," Bush concluded before stepping off the podium. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...