BY Oluwatoyin Bayagbon
US authorities say 11 people have been killed and six injured after a gunman launched an attack on members of The Tree of Life Synagogue, Pittsburgh, US.
The shooter, identified as a 46-year-old local resident named Robert Bowers, surrendered to the police after shooting three officers.
Bowers reportedly walked into the synagogue building and yelled, “all Jews must die,” before opening fire.
The shooting happened during the weekly Shabbat services when the building would have been full of people.
Michael Eisenberg, the past president of the Tree of Life Synagogue, said about 95 people would have been in the building as at the time the shooting occurred.
Local police say they had received several calls from people trapped inside the Synagogue.
Jason Lando, a spokesman for the Pittsburgh police department, said officers were still carrying out searches in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood.
Reacting to the incident, US President Donald Trump tweeted: “Watching the events unfolding in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Law enforcement on the scene. People in Squirrel Hill area should remain sheltered. Looks like multiple fatalities. Beware of active shooter. God Bless All!”
In the US, mass shootings have been linked to more than 30,000 deaths annually.
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