Robert Bowers, who was identified as the gunman who opened fire at a synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday, reportedly killing 11 people and injuring others before being taken into custody, had a history of promoting anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant conspiracies and had called in the past to exterminate the Jews.
KDKA-TV reported that Bowers, a 46-year-old resident of Pittsburgh, is said to have yelled “All Jews must die” as he entered the Tree of Life Synagogue, a Conservative congregation, in the city and began firing, local media reported.
He engaged in a shootout with responding police officers and barricaded himself inside the building before reportedly surrendering. Police say he was injured and crawling when he was taken into custody.
Bowers was an active poster on the social network Gab, which is considered by many to be a hub of the alt-right. In his bio section, Bowers wrote that “jews are the children of satan. (john 8:44) — —- the lord jesus christ is come in the flesh.”
Being very clear for media picking this up, this man Robert Bowers was named on police scanner, found his profile, last post was this and his social media account was wiped while I was archiving it. His account was anti-Semitic conspiracies and anti-Trump posts/conspiracies. pic.twitter.com/uRNfWAEWLW
Bowers last reported post read: “HIAS likes to bring invaders to kill our people. I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in.”
HIAS is an American-Jewish nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian aid to refugees and immigrants. Shortly after the shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation, Bowers’ Gab account was deleted.
#BREAKING: KDKA-TV sources identify #Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting suspect as Robert Bowers. https://t.co/nRD4X8f0yfWatch Live: https://t.co/zNLpv1Uk3i pic.twitter.com/2v3VDyOXLG— KDKA (@KDKA) October 27, 2018
Bowers is described as a white male, heavy-set, with a beard, KDKA-TV reported.
Michael Eisenberg, past president of the Tree of Life synagogue, told CNN that the door would typically have been open on Saturdays with religious services going on. He said police are normally deployed only on High Holy Days — the holiest annual Jewish religious holidays.
He said security was a “major concern” during his stint as president, and active shooting situations and active shooter training were conducted, “if something horrific like this happened.”
The motive of the shooting was not immediately confirmed, but anti-Semitism and hate crimes have been on a rise in the United States in recent years.
Eleven people were killed and at least six were injured in a shooting on Saturday at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, according to CBS Pittsburgh.
The gunman is said to have yelled “All Jews must die” as he entered the Tree of Life Synagogue, a Conservative congregation in the city and began firing during a baby naming ceremony, local media reported. He engaged in a shootout with responding police officers and barricaded himself inside the building before surrendering. He is said to have been injured, and reportedly crawled toward police.
He was armed with a rifle and two handguns, according to reports.
Bowers is said to have written anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant conspiracies on Gab, an alt-right social network similar to Twitter. His last reported message, hours before the shooting Saturday, read: “HIAS likes to bring invaders to kill our people. I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in.”
HIAS, formerly Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, is an American-Jewish nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian aid to refugees and immigrants.
Being very clear for media picking this up, this man Robert Bowers was named on police scanner, found his profile, last post was this and his social media account was wiped while I was archiving it. His account was anti-Semitic conspiracies and anti-Trump posts/conspiracies. pic.twitter.com/uRNfWAEWLW— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) October 27, 2018
Another post from Pittsburgh Synagogue shooter Robert Bowers. His profile clearly illustrates that he’s a Nazi, admired Hitler, hates Trump, believes Trump is controlled by Jews, he did not vote for Trump. That’s all I was able to archive before his profile was wiped. Sickening. pic.twitter.com/DPQfGuWDzY— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) October 27, 2018
Bowers’s Gab bio read: “Jews are the children of Satan.” The profile has since been taken down.
Pittsburgh suspect Robert Bowers posted this AM “HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people..I’m going in” https://t.co/2T5c6xdPhCpic.twitter.com/Bj7T7E8Yzh— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) October 27, 2018
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