Gunman who massacred 15 people at his old school 'inspired by Columbine'

Photos have emerged of Artem Kazantsev, who killed 15 people, at a Russian school he attended, and he appears to have been inspired by the shooting by Columbine< /p> Artem Kazantsev, wearing a swastika on his t-shirt, opened fire killing 15 people at a school (

Image: Shooting /east2west news)

A gunman who massacred 15 people, including 11 children, at a Russian school after appearing to be inspired by the Columbine shootings, has been pictured.

Artem Kazantsev, 34, wearing a swastika on his t-shirt, killed two security guards then opened fire on students and teachers at school number 88 in Izhevsk, where he had previously been student.

Terrified schoolchildren jumped out of windows as they tried to get to safety as Kazantsev carried out his sickening attack.

The Russian Investigative Committee, which deals with major crimes, said it was investigating the alleged neo-Nazi links of the author.

“Currently, the investigators (...) are conducting a search of his home and studying the personality of the attacker, his opinions and the surrounding environment,” the committee said in a statement. "Verifications are underway on his adherence to neo-fascist views and Nazi ideology."

School striker Artyom Kazantsev pictured as a student (

Picture:

social media / east2west news)

But it also seems to have been influenced by the Columbine school massacre in the United States.

Investigators have released video showing the man's body lying in a classroom with overturned furniture and papers strewn across the bloodstained floor. He was dressed in all black, with a red swastika in a circle drawn on his t-shirt.

The two pistols used by Kazantsev were attached to homemade keychains and on one of them were written the names "Eric" and "Dylan".

On the second, the inscription - "Columbine".