An inquiry is to be held into Monday’s shootings at Virginia Tech University. The aim of the independent investigation is to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.

The inquiry will examine the treatment Cho Seung-Hui received when he was referred to a mental health unit in 2005, and other warning signs prior to the attack. The police and medical response to the incident will also be looked at.

Since the shootings in Virginia on April 16, when Cho killed 32 people and himself, there has been a series of scares at universities and schools across the United States. The threats come as photos and video footage from the killer, which he mailed to the U.S. TV network NBC, are broadcast around the world.

Police and the victims' families have criticised NBC for broadcasting the footage.