Gunman opened fire at a university in the Russian city of Perm on Monday, killing at least eight people and wounding several.

According to the law enforcement, the gunman was detained shortly after the incident at Perm State University, located around 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) east of Moscow.

Russia’s Investigative Committee, the agency that handles probes into major crimes said, “The gunman had been identified as a student at the university and he has been liquidated.

“Students jumped from first-floor windows to escape the building, landing heavily on the ground before running to safety.”

Russia has strict restrictions on civilian firearm ownership, but some categories of guns are available for purchase for hunting, self-defence or sport, once would-be owners have passed tests and met other requirements.

Reuters