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Pittsburgh shooting: Multiple casualties at Squirrel Hill synagogue | Pittsburgh shooting: Multiple casualties at Squirrel Hill synagogue |
(35 minutes later) | |
Eleven people have been killed, officials say, in a gun attack on a synagogue in the US city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. | Eleven people have been killed, officials say, in a gun attack on a synagogue in the US city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. |
The gunman, who opened fire as the Tree of Life synagogue held a service, was later taken into custody. | The gunman, who opened fire as the Tree of Life synagogue held a service, was later taken into custody. |
President Donald Trump said "a lot of people" had been killed and injured in a "wicked act of mass murder". | President Donald Trump said "a lot of people" had been killed and injured in a "wicked act of mass murder". |
The suspect, who has been officially identified as Robert Bowers, 46, was injured and is receiving treatment. | The suspect, who has been officially identified as Robert Bowers, 46, was injured and is receiving treatment. |
Two other people are in hospital in a critical condition, police said. | Two other people are in hospital in a critical condition, police said. |
Federal investigators are treating the shooting as a hate crime. | Federal investigators are treating the shooting as a hate crime. |
The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish non-governmental organisation that fights anti-Semitism, said: "We believe this is the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States." | The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish non-governmental organisation that fights anti-Semitism, said: "We believe this is the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States." |
Hundreds of people - from the neighbourhood and also all across Pittsburgh - later gathered for an interfaith vigil for the victims of the attack in Squirrel Hill. | Hundreds of people - from the neighbourhood and also all across Pittsburgh - later gathered for an interfaith vigil for the victims of the attack in Squirrel Hill. |
Sophia Levin, a local resident and one of the organisers, told the BBC some people were "really sad" and the mood was "heavy". | Sophia Levin, a local resident and one of the organisers, told the BBC some people were "really sad" and the mood was "heavy". |
But she added that people also wanted to be "together, not alone", and the vigil would help heal the city. | But she added that people also wanted to be "together, not alone", and the vigil would help heal the city. |
President Trump said he would visit Pittsburgh, following the attack. | President Trump said he would visit Pittsburgh, following the attack. |
How did the shooting unfold? | How did the shooting unfold? |
On Saturday morning, worshippers had gathered at the synagogue, in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood, for a baby naming ceremony during the Sabbath. | On Saturday morning, worshippers had gathered at the synagogue, in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood, for a baby naming ceremony during the Sabbath. |
Squirrel Hill has one of the largest Jewish populations in Pennsylvania and this would have been the synagogue's busiest day of the week. | Squirrel Hill has one of the largest Jewish populations in Pennsylvania and this would have been the synagogue's busiest day of the week. |
According to reports Mr Bowers, a white male, entered the building armed with an assault rifle and two pistols. | According to reports Mr Bowers, a white male, entered the building armed with an assault rifle and two pistols. |
Reports say he barricaded himself in a room at the synagogue when police approached. | Reports say he barricaded himself in a room at the synagogue when police approached. |
Emergency services arrived at the building at about 10:00 local time (14:00 GMT), and gunshots could be heard. | Emergency services arrived at the building at about 10:00 local time (14:00 GMT), and gunshots could be heard. |
Pittsburgh's Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich later confirmed Mr Bowers was in police custody and was being treated in hospital. | Pittsburgh's Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich later confirmed Mr Bowers was in police custody and was being treated in hospital. |
The crime scene was "horrific", he told reporters. "One of the worst I've seen, and I've [worked] on some plane crashes. It's very bad," he added. | The crime scene was "horrific", he told reporters. "One of the worst I've seen, and I've [worked] on some plane crashes. It's very bad," he added. |
He said that two officers were injured in an "initial confrontation" and that a further two Swat officers were later hurt by the gunman when they entered the building. He said that no children were among the casualties. | He said that two officers were injured in an "initial confrontation" and that a further two Swat officers were later hurt by the gunman when they entered the building. He said that no children were among the casualties. |
What do we know about the gunman? | What do we know about the gunman? |
US media said he had shouted "All Jews must die" as he carried out the attack. | US media said he had shouted "All Jews must die" as he carried out the attack. |
Social media posts by someone with the name Robert Bowers were also reported to be full of anti-Semitic comments. | Social media posts by someone with the name Robert Bowers were also reported to be full of anti-Semitic comments. |
Pittsburgh FBI's special agent in charge of the investigation, Bob Jones, told a press conference that Mr Bowers did not appear to be known to authorities prior to events on Saturday. | |
He said that any motive remains unknown but that authorities believe he was acting alone. | He said that any motive remains unknown but that authorities believe he was acting alone. |
Mr Jones added that the investigation was "in the early stages". "We will look at every aspect of the suspect's life," he said. | Mr Jones added that the investigation was "in the early stages". "We will look at every aspect of the suspect's life," he said. |
Mr Bowers is receiving treatment for what has been described as multiple gunshot wounds. | Mr Bowers is receiving treatment for what has been described as multiple gunshot wounds. |
What has been President Trump's reaction? | What has been President Trump's reaction? |
He called the shooting a "terrible, terrible thing". | He called the shooting a "terrible, terrible thing". |
"To see this happen again and again, for so many years, it's just a shame," he told reporters on Saturday. | "To see this happen again and again, for so many years, it's just a shame," he told reporters on Saturday. |
He described the gunman as a "maniac" and suggested the US should "stiffen up our laws of the death penalty". | He described the gunman as a "maniac" and suggested the US should "stiffen up our laws of the death penalty". |
"These people should pay the ultimate price. This has to stop," he said. | "These people should pay the ultimate price. This has to stop," he said. |
Later on Saturday, Mr Trump appeared at the Future Farmers of America Convention in Indianapolis, saying: "There must be no tolerance for anti-Semitism. It must be condemned and confronted everywhere and anywhere it appears." | Later on Saturday, Mr Trump appeared at the Future Farmers of America Convention in Indianapolis, saying: "There must be no tolerance for anti-Semitism. It must be condemned and confronted everywhere and anywhere it appears." |
Speaking to reporters after the event, Mr Trump said the attacker was not one of his supporters, describing him as "sick". | Speaking to reporters after the event, Mr Trump said the attacker was not one of his supporters, describing him as "sick". |
Mr Trump has also said that the incident had "little to do" with US gun laws. "If they had protection inside, maybe it could have been a different situation." | Mr Trump has also said that the incident had "little to do" with US gun laws. "If they had protection inside, maybe it could have been a different situation." |
Former US President Barack Obama voiced a different position on the ongoing gun law debate, tweeting: "We have to stop making it so easy for those who want to harm the innocent to get their hands on a gun." | Former US President Barack Obama voiced a different position on the ongoing gun law debate, tweeting: "We have to stop making it so easy for those who want to harm the innocent to get their hands on a gun." |
What about other reaction? | What about other reaction? |
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf said in a statement that the incident was an "absolute tragedy" and that such acts of violence could not be accepted as "normal". | Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf said in a statement that the incident was an "absolute tragedy" and that such acts of violence could not be accepted as "normal". |
He said: "These senseless acts of violence are not who we are as Americans. | He said: "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." | "My thoughts right now are focused on the victims, their families and making sure law enforcement has every resource they need." |
The president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, Jeff Finkelstein, said his "heart goes out to all these families". | The president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, Jeff Finkelstein, said his "heart goes out to all these families". |
"Now I'm just sad. This should not be happening. Period. It should not be happening in a synagogue. It should not be happening in our neighbourhood here in Squirrel Hill," he said. | "Now I'm just sad. This should not be happening. Period. It should not be happening in a synagogue. It should not be happening in our neighbourhood here in Squirrel Hill," he said. |
Other world leaders to condemn the attack include Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said he was "heartbroken and appalled". | Other world leaders to condemn the attack include Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said he was "heartbroken and appalled". |
"We stand together with the American people in the face of this horrendous anti-Semitic brutality," he said in a video message. | "We stand together with the American people in the face of this horrendous anti-Semitic brutality," he said in a video message. |
UK Prime Minister Theresa May said she was "shocked" by the attack. | UK Prime Minister Theresa May said she was "shocked" by the attack. |
"Our thoughts are with the Jewish community in Pittsburgh and all those affected by this sickening and cowardly act," she said. | "Our thoughts are with the Jewish community in Pittsburgh and all those affected by this sickening and cowardly act," she said. |
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country's hearts "are with the Jewish community in Pittsburgh today". | Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country's hearts "are with the Jewish community in Pittsburgh today". |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: "We all have to stand up against anti-Semitism, everywhere." | German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: "We all have to stand up against anti-Semitism, everywhere." |
The New York Police Department said it had deployed officers to synagogues throughout the city as a precaution. | The New York Police Department said it had deployed officers to synagogues throughout the city as a precaution. |
The BBC's Dan Johnson in Washington says the shootings come at a tense time in the US, after a week in which mail bombs were sent to critics of Mr Trump, ahead of crucial mid-term elections next month. | The BBC's Dan Johnson in Washington says the shootings come at a tense time in the US, after a week in which mail bombs were sent to critics of Mr Trump, ahead of crucial mid-term elections next month. |
Are you in the area? Did you witness the incident? If it is safe to do, email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you in the area? Did you witness the incident? If it is safe to do, email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below: | Or use the form below: |