Envoy to help inquiry

Taiwan’s president has condemned the shooting at a Taiwanese church in California by aman reportedly driven by hatred of the island, while a lawmaker from her ruling party questioned whether Chinese propagandawas amotivating factor behind the violence. President Tsai Ing-wen’s office issued a statement yesterday saying she condemned ‘‘any form of violence,’’ extended her condolences to those killed and injured and had asked the island’s chief representative in the US to fly to California to provide assistance. David Chou, 68, of Las Vegas, was expected to appear in California state court today on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

Police said he hid firebombs before Monday’s shooting at a gathering of mostly elderly Taiwanese parishioners at the church in Orange County. One man was killed and five people were wounded, the oldest 92. A federal hate crimes investigation is ongoing. Chou, a US citizen, apparently had a grievance with the Taiwanese community.