Pittsburgh: Law enforcement officials identified Robert D. Bowers, 46, as the suspect in the attack at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday. Bowers was taken into custody.
The 20-minute attack at Tree of Life Congregation in the Squirrel Hill district left at least six others wounded, including four police officers who dashed to the scene, authorities said.
The suspect, Robert Bowers, traded gunfire with police and was shot several times. Bowers, who was in fair condition at a hospital, was expected to face federal hate-crime charges.
Here’s what we know about the suspect:
— Bowers’ social media activity shows a history of virulent anti-Semitism, filled with slurs and references to conspiracy theories.
— In an account under his name on the social network Gab, Bowers’ biography read: “Jews are the children of Satan.” His posts frequently implied that Jews controlled the country.
— Bowers was at times critical of President Donald Trump. Two days before the shooting, he wrote: “Trump is a globalist, not a nationalist. There is no #MAGA as long as there is a”— Bowers inserted a slur for Jews —”infestation.”
— Hours before Bowers allegedly entered the synagogue, he posted about a Jewish organisation that assists refugees: “HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in.”
Read the report in The Sydney Morning Herald (from The New York Times, AP).