At least 10 killed in Pittsburgh synagogue attack

PITTSBURGH (AP):

Security has been increased at Jewish centres in New York City and elsewhere in the state in response to the deadly shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue.

Late yesterday, persons with knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press that at least 10 people died in the shooting at the synagogue.

Authorities said the gunman opened fire during a baby-naming ceremony yesterday morning at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighbourhood. Several persons were wounded, including three police officers.

New York Police Department officials said they were dispatching heavy weapons teams and squad cars to check on houses of worship across the city.

Governor Andrew Cuomo, in a statement, said that he was also directing state police to increase patrols at synagogues throughout the state.

SPECIFIC THREATS

Cuomo said that there were no specific threats and that the security measures were a precaution.

Police had earlier reported that a suspect was in custody after the shooting.

The synagogue is located at the intersection of Wilkins and Shady avenues. The tree-lined residential neighbourhood of Squirrel Hill, about 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, is the hub of Pittsburgh's Jewish community.

President Donald Trump said he was monitoring the shooting. In a tweet, Trump said it "looks like multiple fatalities".

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf called the shooting an "absolute tragedy".

"We must all pray and hope for no more loss of life," Wolf said. "But we have been saying 'this one is too many' for far too long. Dangerous weapons are putting our citizens in harm's way."

Shocked reactions greeted news of the shooting.

Richard Cohen, president of the Southern Poverty Law Center, deplored "another horrific act of hate at a house of worship".

He says the shooting was reminiscent of "the slaughter of nine African-American worshippers at Charleston's Mother Emmanuel Church in 2015, the killings of six Sikh worshippers at a temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, in 2014, and, of course, the bombing of Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church in 1963 that left four young African-American girls dead".

Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted: "We are devastated. Jews targeted on Sabbath morning at synagogue, a holy place of worship, is unconscionable. Our hearts break for the victims, their families, and the entire Jewish community."