US synagogue shooting toll rises to 11
■ Shooting deadliest anti- Semitic attack in recent US history
Pittsburgh. Oct. 28: Robert Bowers, armed with an assault rifle and three handguns, yelled, “All Jews must die,” and stormed a Pittsburgh synagogue during Saturday services, killing 11 worshippers and wounding six other people including four police officers, before he was arrested.
Bowers, 46, of Pittsburgh, was taken into custody after a shootout with a SWAT team. Federal prosecutors charged him with 29 criminal counts of murder and hate crimes. He could face the death penalty.
The Pittsburgh synagogue attack is being called the deadliest antiSemitic attack in recent US history, and has
◗ Robert Bowers, 46, of Pittsburgh, was taken into custody after a shoot- out with a SWAT team. Federal prosecutors charged him with 29 criminal counts of murder and hate crimes. He could face the death penalty.
sparked a flood of international condemnation and warnings about the rise of hate speech.
Pope Francis, at the end of the Angelus prayer in Saint Peter’s Square, said, “We are all, in truth, wounded by this inhuman act of violence. May the Lord help us put out the flames of hate that develop in our societies, strengthening the sense of humanity, respect for life, moral and civil values and holy fear of God.”
Donald Trump denounced the shooting as “a wicked act of mass murder.” “This evil antiSemitic attack is an assault on all of us,” Mr Trump told supporters at an election rally in Illinois, urging people to “stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters to defeat anti- Semitism and vanquish the forces of hate.” The US leader has ordered all flags to be flown at half- staff through October 31 as a mark of “solemn respect” for the victims — three women and eight men ranging in age from 54 to 97, who included two brothers and one married couple.
Bowers had made many anti- Semitic posts online, including one early on Saturday. Saturday’s attack comes at a time of heightened tensions — a day after a supporter of President Donald Trump was arrested for mailing explosive devices to Democrats and liberals, setting the country on edge ahead of close- fought elections.