11 worshippers massacred at Pittsburgh synagogue; Suspect charged with 29 counts

A heavily-armed white man, spewing anti-Semitic threats, stormed a prominent synagogue and massacred 11 worshippers in the US city of Pittsburgh, in the deadliest attack on Jews in the history of America.

The shooter, identified as 46-year-old Robert Bowers, armed with an assault rifle and three handguns, surrendered after he was injured during an exchange of fire with the police at 'Tree of Life' Congregation Synagogue at Squirell Hill in Pittsburgh, where a large number of people had gathered for a baby naming ceremony.

Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said that 11 people were killed and six others injured including four policemen. He added that there were no children among fatalities or injured.

Bowers was in fair condition Saturday evening with multiple gunshot wounds, officials said. It is believed he was shot by police.

Tree of Life is located in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighbourhood, which is known as the heart of the local Jewish community.

Bowers, whose social media account reflected his hatred against the Jews, was charged with 29 counts of federal crimes of violence and firearms offenses, federal prosecutors said.

The charges include 11 counts of obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death; and 11 counts of use of a firearm to commit murder during a crime of violence.

Bowers frequently wrote on the social network Gab, where he made a specific threat against Jews hours before allegedly conducting Saturday's attack.

In the post, Bowers said that the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, a humanitarian aid nonprofit group that provides assistance to refugees, brought immigrants to the United States to do violence against others.

"Screw your optics, I'm going in," he wrote.

The FBI is investigating this as a "hate crime". Before opening fire, Bowers reportedly yelled, "All Jews must die!"
Former president Barack Obama called his fellow countrymen to fight the rise of anti-Semitism. "All of us have to fight the rise of anti-Semitism and hateful rhetoric against those who look, love, or pray differently. We have to stop making it so easy for those who want to harm the innocent to get their hands on a gun."