Pittsburgh Shooting: 11 Dead, Suspect Charged with Hate CrimeTop Stories

October 29, 2018 04:21
Pittsburgh Shooting: 11 Dead, Suspect Charged with Hate Crime

(Image source from: www.mprnews.org)

A gunman on Saturday reportedly yelling "All Jews must die!" opened fire at a Jewish synagogue in Pittsburgh, a city in Pennsylvania killing at least 11 people and injuring several others plus four policemen, in the fatal "anti-Semitic attack" in America in years.

The shooter, Robert Bowers, 46, surrendered after he was injured during an exchange of fire with the police, according to local media reports.

Federal prosecutors have filed hate crime charges against the gunman and Bowers faces 29 charges.

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Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich told reporters that there were 11 fatalities and six injuries including four policemen. "This does not include the shooter," he said, adding that there were no children among fatalities or injured.

FBI agents reached the 'Tree of Life' Congregation Synagogue at Squirrel Hill area in Pittsburgh, where a huge number of people had gathered for a baby naming ritual when the gunfire took place. The reason was not immediately known.

"Gunman targeted (people) because of their faith. At this time, we believe that he was acting alone," said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Bob Jones.

Describing the mass shooting as "pure evil", the United States President Donald Trump said the nation and the world are shocked by the unimaginable incident.

"This wicked act of mass murder is pure evil, hard to believe, and frankly something that is unimaginable. Our nation and the world are shocked and stunned by the grief. This was an anti-Semitic act," said Trump, whose daughter Ivanka Trump is married to Jew Jared Kushner.

"We just don't seem to learn from the past," he said at a farmers' event in Indianapolis.

"Our minds cannot comprehend the cruel hate and the twisted malice that could cause a person to unleash such terrible violence during a baby naming ceremony. This was a baby naming ceremony at a sacred house of worship," the U.S. President said.

According to NBC news, shooter Bowers was armed with an AR-15 style rifle in addition to multiple handguns.

In his numerous social media accounts, Bowers exposed his anti-Jew sentiment, and, particularly, expelled his anger against Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.

Hebrew-Immigrant-Aid-Society                       ImageSource: Sky News

"HIAS likes to bring invaders in to kill our people. I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I am going in," he posted on the social media platform Gab, an alternative version of Twitter.

In another Gab message, Bowers said he did not vote for Trump, nor did he ever wear a cap of MAGA (Make America Great Again).

Ivanka posted on Twitter: "America is stronger than the acts of a depraved bigot and anti-semite. All good Americans stand with the Jewish people to oppose acts of terror & share the horror, disgust & outrage over the massacre in Pittsburgh. We must unite against hatred & evil."

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in a statement said that this violent attack is the "deadliest anti-Semitic attack in the United States since 2014".

"It is simply unconscionable for Jews to be targeted during worship on a Sabbath morning, and unthinkable that it would happen in the United States of America in this day and age,” it said.

"We must all rise above the hay, move past our divisions and embrace our common destiny as Americans. It doesn't mean that we can't fight hard and be strong and say what's on our mind, But we have to always remember those elements of love and dignity and respect," Trump said.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf said: "The shooting in Pittsburgh this morning is an absolute tragedy...These senseless acts of violence are not who we are as Americans. My thoughts right now are focused on the victims, their families and making sure law enforcement has every resource they need. We cannot accept this violence as normal."

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum strongly condemned it and reminded all Americans of the dangers of unchecked hatred and anti-semitism which must be confronted wherever they appear and called on all Americans to vigorously work to promote social solidarity and respect the dignity of all individuals.

-Sowmya Sangam

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Pittsburgh  Jewish synagogue  Hate Crime