Updated 19:05
US police are a treating a gun attack in the city of Pittsburgh in which at least eight people are reported to have died as a hate crime.
Police say a suspect is in custody after the shooting near the Tree of Life Synagogue at Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Quoting “multiple senior law enforcement officials,” NBC News is reporting that at least eight people were killed in the attack with 12 injured.
Four police officers were wounded – three of them with gun-shots.
Police have identified the suspect as 46-year-old Robert Bowers and said he was armed with multiple handguns and an AR-15 style assault rifle.
Social media accounts that paper to belong to Mr Bowers contained post with anti-semitic messages and hate speech.
It is believed a bris ceremony was underway in the synagogue at the time of the attack and it is unclear if there are any children among the casualties.
US President Donald Trump called on the public to beware of an active shooter and said it “looks like multiple fatalities” in the area.
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2018
He later tweeted that the attack was “far more devastating than originally thought.”
