BURGEO, N.L. -- A small town on Newfoundland's south coast is mourning the loss of a popular teacher who used to live in the community.
Burgeo Mayor Barbara Barter said she was stunned when word reached her Sunday evening that 62-year-old Linda Vatcher had been killed by gunmen earlier that day at a tourist attraction in Jordan.
Barter said she grew up with Vatcher in Burgeo and stayed in touch with her even after the former elementary school teacher moved with her husband and two sons to Corner Brook about a decade ago.
She said Vatcher had recently travelled to the Middle East to spend Christmas with her son Chris, who was reportedly teaching in the United Arab Emirates.
He was also injured in the attack that left seven members of the Jordanian security forces, two local civilians and Vatcher dead.
Jordanian officials say the gunmen apparently had planned additional attacks, citing explosives belts found in the attackers' hideout.
