FBI BLUNDERING ALLOWED ROOF TO BUY .45 HANDGUN

WASHINGTON: The man accused of shooting dead nine black Charleston churchgoers was only able to purchase the handgun that killed them because of FBI failures, its director said on Friday.

FBI chief James Comey admitted that the 21-year-old alleged white supremacist should never have been able to get his hands on the .45-calibre weapon used on June 17 to devastating effect in Charleston, but was able to do so because of a breakdown in an FBI background check.

“I’m here today to talk to you about a mistake, in a matter of heartbreaking importance to all of us,” Mr Comey told reporters at Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters.

“Dylann Roof, the alleged killer of so many innocent people at the Emanuel AME Church, should not have been allowed to purchase the gun he allegedly used that evening.”

Mr Comey said a review was under way to prevent a repeat of the blunders and they were in touch with family members of the victims.

Mr Roof was arrested on a drugs charge on March 1 and his admission of guilt for possession would have been sufficient to block a gun sale during an FBI-administered background check.