Mourning Swiss tighten security

ZUG, Switzerland -- Security is being stepped up in Switzerland as the country mourns 14 people in a regional parliament chamber by a lone gunman.

Friedrich Leibacher, 57, sprayed bullets at the members of the government of Zug and set off an explosive device during a rampage on Thursday before killing himself.

New security measures were announced on Friday for government and parliament buildings in the capital Bern, including metal detectors, baggage screening, identity controls and protective grills on windows.

Peter Hess, president of the Swiss national parliament, said: "We want to keep an open house and let visitors in. But maybe now we have to look at tighter restrictions."

Swiss President Moritz Leuenberger added: "We were proud that until now politicians could move freely. That has been put into question by this attack."

AUDIO Swiss Parliament Speaker Peter Hess: 'He appeared clothed as a policeman and started shooting' 716K / 60 sec WAV sound

Three members of the seven-member Zug regional government were killed along with 11 members of the 80-strong state parliament.

Ten other people were injured -- two seriously, including state President Hanspeter Uster -- before Leibacher turned the gun on himself in what is Switzerland's worst-ever shooting spree.

Leuenberger immediately broke off a meeting with Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade to visit Zug where he led mourners at a memorial service for the victims on Thursday evening.

Hundreds of residents carried lighted candles to the town's main square.

"Our democracy and freedom has been put into question," said Leuenberger, who has ordered all state flags to fly at half-staff for the next three days.

"I'm just so shocked I can find no more words," he added.

Hess interrupted a regular session of the national parliament to announce the killings on Thursday.

Leibacher stormed the chamber and fired at least one magazine of 20 bullets from his 5.6 mm SIG "Sturmgewehr 90."

He detonated a grenade, which ripped doors off and shattered windows of the stately two-story building. He then shot himself with a pistol.

Hanspeter Hausheer, a member of parliament who was in the building, said the shooting lasted for about five minutes. "It was like an execution," he said.

Among the victims was Herbert Arnet, president of the cantonal parliament of Zug, Peter Bossard, Interior Secretary in the state government, Jean-Paul Flachsmann, Construction Secretary and Monika Hutter-Haefliger, Health Secretary.

It is believed that Leibacher had been locked in legal conflict with local authorities because of a row he had with a bus driver in Zug two years ago.

He subsequently insulted all public transport workers, leading the transport department to file a complaint against him.

Officials told the Associated Press that the dispute had escalated into a vendetta against transport and justice authorities as Leibacher responded with counter-complaints alleging transport and justice department figures were violating their public duties.

He filed lawsuits at every level of the Swiss legal system, including the Supreme Court. All his cases were dismissed -- he was told of the most recent rejection shortly before the shootings.

"He did this purely out of revenge and fury," local investigator Kurt Bloechlinger told the AP.

Officials have stressed that there was no link to the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.