Synagogue attack kills 11, injures 6
A gunman faces 29 charges of violent crimes after opening fire during a babynaming ceremony at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, killing 11 people and injuring six in the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in recent US history.
The shooter -identified as a 46-yearold Robert Bowers -reportedly yelled "All Jews must die" as he burst into the Tree of Life synagogue, where people gathered for Sabbath services. Taken into custody after a shootout with police, the suspect was transferred to a hospital.
US prosecutors subsequently charged him with 29 counts of federal crimes, including 11 counts of using a firearm to commit murder and 11 counts of obstructing the exercise of religion resulting in death.
"The crimes of violence are based upon the federal civil rights laws prohibiting hate crimes," a statement said. Authorities have said Bowers' charges could carry the death penalty.
President Donald Trump denounced "a wicked act of mass murder," while his daughter Ivanka, a convert to Judaism, declared: "America is stronger than the acts of a depraved bigot and antiSemite."
"This evil anti-Semitic attack is an assault on all of us," Trump told supporters at an election rally in Illinois where he drew loud cheers as he vowed to fully enforce the death penalty for such crimes.
"We must stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters to defeat antiSemitism and vanquish the forces of hate."
Trump said he would soon travel to Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, where hundreds held a candlelit vigil late Saturday. The president ordered all flags at the White House and at public grounds, military posts and naval stations to be flown at half-staff through October 31 as a mark of "solemn respect" for the victims.
Stephen Weiss, a 60-year-old member of the congregation, described hearing dozens of shots coming from the synagogue's front lobby.
"We had services going on in the chapel when we heard a loud noise," he told the Tribune-Review newspaper. "I recognized it as gunshots."
Authorities said Bowers was armed with an assault rifle and at least three handguns when he opened fire shortly before 10:00 am (1400 GMT) -leaving a scene described as "horrific" by Wendell Hissrich, Pittsburgh's public safety director.
"One of the worst that I've seen. I've been on plane crashes," said Hissrich, who confirmed that 11 people were killed, and six injured. No children were among the casualties.
"It's sickening. Outside of just the evil factor of it, who wakes up on a Saturday morning to do that?" said Pittsburgh chef Nathan, 42, who came to pay his respects but refused to give his second name.
"Hate Has No Home Here," read a placard in a simple memorial, next to a heart-shaped US flag -- the same slogan repeated in Hebrew and Arabic, with candles and bouquets of pink roses and carnations.