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Two students, aged 16 and 14, have been killed and three others injured by a gunman who opened fire at a secondary school in California, officials say.

The victims died in a brief, 16-second gun attack shortly before classes began on Thursday at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, north of Los Angeles. The attack came on the 16th birthday of the suspect, named by US media as fellow student, Nathaniel Berhow.

The suspect then shot himself in the head and is in a critical condition.

Students and teachers spoke of how they barricaded themselves in classrooms amid chaotic scenes, carrying out an active shooter drill that many schools have implemented in recent years following deadly attacks around the country.

It was first reported at 07:38 local time (15:38 GMT) on Thursday, LA county sheriff Alex Villanueva said, adding that police were at the scene within two minutes. The suspect was standing in the school courtyard when he took a .45-calibre semi-automatic pistol from his backpack and opened fire for about 16 seconds before turning the gun on himself, Sheriff’s Captain Kent Wegener said. «He just fires from where he is. He doesn’t chase anybody. He doesn’t move,» Capt Wegener said.

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Afghanistan is to release three high-ranking Taliban prisoners in exchange for two hostages held by the group, President Ashraf Ghani has said.

American Kevin King and Australian Timothy Weeks were lecturers at the American University of Afghanistan when they were kidnapped in 2016.

Anas Haqqani, a leading figure in the Haqqani militant group, and two other senior commanders are part of the deal. It is unclear how or when the exchange of prisoners will take place.

«In order to pave the way for face-to-face negotiations with the Taliban, the government has decided to free Taliban prisoners in exchange for two university professors,» Mr Ghani said in a televised speech.

There was no immediate response to the announcement from the Taliban, who have long refused to negotiate with Mr Ghani’s administration.

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Two people are in critical condition after another day of violent demonstrations in Hong Kong.

A protester was injured on Monday morning when he was shot at close range by a police officer. He was the third person shot by police since the protests began 24 weeks ago.

Later on Monday a pro-Beijing supporter was doused in flammable liquid and set alight after arguing with protesters, who are demanding greater democracy and police accountability in Hong Kong.

The territory’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam, speaking at a news conference on Monday evening, called the demonstrators enemies of the people. «If there’s still any wishful thinking that by escalating violence, the Hong Kong government will yield to pressure, to satisfy the so-called political demands, I’m making this statement clear and loud here: that will not happen,» she said.

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Suspected separatists have killed at least 15 people and injured four in southern Thailand, in one of the country’s worst attacks in years.

Police officers were among those killed at the attack on a security checkpoint in Yala province.

The attackers used explosives and then scattered nails on roads in an attempt to slow down people chasing after them. Thousands have been killed in southern Thailand since a separatist insurgency gripped the region in 2004.

The attack took place on Tuesday night — Yala is one of three provinces in the region that have often been hit by violence.

Separatist insurgents are believed to have targeted a security checkpoint, killing at least 15 people — including a police officer and numerous village defence volunteers. These volunteers are usually civilians who have been trained to use weapons and are tasked with protecting the village.

Some of the injured remain critically ill. There is still no evidence as to who was behind the attack, but Colonel Pramote Prom-in, a regional security spokesman, told Reuters that it was «likely the work of insurgents».

«This is one of the biggest attacks in recent times,» he said.

Six police officers have been injured after they were targeted on Bonfire Night by groups of people throwing fireworks and setting bins alight.

Dozens of officers in riot gear were deployed in the Harehills area of Leeds when the chaos broke out at 20:20 GMT. Fifteen «local males», aged between 11 and 23, have been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, West Yorkshire Police said.

The force said offenders were «naive to think there will not be consequences».

Two of the injured officers were treated in hospital but were not seriously hurt. The others suffered minor injuries. A helicopter was deployed as the mayhem unfolded on Tuesday.

Officers came under attack as they were dealing with a wheelie bin that had been set on fire. Passing motorists were also targeted. Other bins were then moved into the road and set alight as the number of young people involved increased, West Yorkshire Police said.

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