A man suspected of killing 11 people in a synagogue in Pittsburgh has been charged with murder – in what is believed to be the worst antisemitic attack in recent US history. Robert Bowers, 46, is accused of opening fire at the Tree of Life synagogue during its Shabbat service.
He faces 29 criminal counts, including use of a firearm to commit murder. Federal prosecutors say they will also file hate crime charges, and the suspect could face the death penalty.
President Donald Trump described the attack as a “wicked act of mass murder”.
Six people – including four police officers – were injured in Saturday’s attack. Hundreds of people – from the neighbourhood and also all across Pittsburgh – later gathered for an interfaith vigil for the victims of the attack in the synagogue in Squirrel Hill.
On Saturday morning, worshippers had gathered at the synagogue for a baby naming ceremony.
Squirrel Hill has one of the largest Jewish populations in Pennsylvania. According to reports, Bowers, a white male, entered the building during the morning service armed with an assault rifle and three handguns.
The gunman had already shot dead 11 people and was leaving the synagogue after about 20 minutes when he encountered Swat officers and exchanged fire with them, FBI agent Robert Jones said.
The attacker then moved back into the building to try to hide from the police. He surrendered after a shootout, and is now being treated in hospital for what has been described as multiple gunshot wounds.
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 antisemitic comments.
Jonathan Greenblatt, the head of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL, said he was “devastated”.
World leaders also condemned the attack, including Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu who said he was “heartbroken and appalled”, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel who said: “We all have to stand up against antisemitism, everywhere.”