Shooting in the synagogue of Pittsburgh

The Tree of Life Synagogue, a “traditional, progressive, and egalitarian congregation,” is located in the Pittsburgh area of ​​Skverrell Hill, near Carnegie Mellon University , about 8 km east of the center of Pittsburgh. ^{[9] [10]} Skverrell Hill is one of the largest Jewish districts in the United States, historically it was the center of the Jewish community of Pittsburgh. It is home to 26 percent of the city’s Jewish population. ^{[11] [12]} The Tree of Life is a conservative Jewish synagogue, founded in 1864 in the center of Pittsburgh. The modern synagogue building, located at the intersection of Wilkins Avenue and Shady Avenue, was built in 1946. The Tree of Life divides it with two other Jewish congregations: Dor Hadash ( Hebrew דור חדש ), reconstructive , and Novy Svet, another conservative collection. ^{[13] [14]} The main hall of the synagogue seats 1,250 people. ^[15]

The suspect, described by witnesses as a white man with a beard, entered the building and shouted: “All Jews must die” before opening fire. At this time, three scheduled Saturday morning services were held, one of which was reportedly Brit-Mila, Jewish circumcision, and naming boys of eight days old. ^[16] As one of the members of the Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh told reporters, at this point between 60 and 100 people were in the building. ^[17]

The police received calls from people barricading themselves in the building during the shooting. ^[18] Around 10:00 am local time, emergency services arrived at the synagogue. ^[nineteen]

Eleven people were killed. It was reported that on the first floor three people were killed, four in the basement of the synagogue and at least one person died in the building. ^[20] Four policemen were shot. Most of the victims were taken to the Presbyterian Hospital and the Mercy Hospital at the University of Pittsburgh, while the wounded suspect was sent to Allegheny Hospital. ^{[21] [22]}

The suspect was identified by local authorities as Robert Bowers, a resident of Baldwin, Pennsylvania. ^{[24] [25]} He was taken into custody by the police after the shooting and sent to hospital. ^{[26] [27]} Bowers was armed with a rifle and it was officially confirmed that at least three pistols were found with him. ^[28]

Bowers' profile on the social network Gab.com was registered in January 2018 under the nickname onedingo, its description contained the phrase: “Jews are the children of Satan (John 8:44). The Lord Jesus Christ came in the flesh. " A photo with the number 1488 was also placed there - the number used by neo-Nazis and racists as a code slogan (referring to David Lane 's “fourteen words” and Heil Hitler’s “Nazi greeting” ) . Bowers published one post referring to the conspiracy theory of the “white genocide”. He also published reposts of other anti-Semitic and neo-Nazi-minded users and Holocaust deniers . ^[29]

A month before the attack, Bowers posted photos showing the results of his training in shooting, and a photo of three pistols, calling his collection "Glock Family." ^[thirty]

According to some reports, Bowers wrote anti-Semitic posts regarding the National Refugees Shabbat ( HIAS events) several weeks before being shot. ^[31]

Shortly before the attack, Bowers wrote to Gab that “HIAS likes to bring invaders who kill our people. I can not sit and watch my people being killed. Screw your optics, I'm going, "implying immigrants to the United States . ^[32] Bowers also criticized President Donald Trump as “a globalist , not a nationalist”, ^[33] allegedly under the control of the Jews.

The campus of Carnegie Mellon University was sealed, and all university events were canceled before the end of the day. Locals received instructions from the police to remain in their homes and not to go out.

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