Names of Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Victims to Be Released

The names of those shot dead by a gunman yelling “All Jews must die” will be released yesterday after the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the United States, officials said.

The gunman stormed a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, killing 11 worshippers and wounding six other people including four police officers before he was arrested.

Pittsburg Mayor Bill Peduto told CBS television station KDKA that when the list of the dead is released by federal officials at a news conference at 9 a.m. on Sunday, it “will rip your heart out”, saying he personally knew some of the victims.

The Tree of Life synagogue in the city’s Squirrel Hill neighbourhood, a heavily Jewish area, was holding a Shabbat religious service at the time of the shooting.

The mass shooting prompted security alerts at houses of worship around the country and condemnation from politicians and religious leaders.

It follows a spate of pipe bombs found mailed in recent days to prominent political figures, mostly Democrats including former President Barack Obama, ahead of the Nov. 6 congressional elections.

“May the Lord help us to put out the hotbeds of hate that flare up in our societies, strengthening a sense of humanity, respect for life, moral and civil values and the holy fear of God, who is love and the father of all,” Pope Francis told pilgrims in St. Peter ’ s Square after a Mass.

The U. S. Attorney’s Office said it would make public the charging complaint and an official affidavit, which may shed light on why Robert Bowers, 46, of Pittsburgh, allegedly shot the worshippers.