Gunman unloads terror at heart of Jewish life

Gunman Robert Bowers only needed 20 minutes to sow terror at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.

The Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill yesterday. Picture: Gettty Images

Gunman Robert Bowers needed only 20 minutes to sow terror at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, where congregants had gathered peacefully for Shabbat services marking a day of rest.

Shortly before 10 am on Saturday (1am yesterday AEST), 46-year-old Bowers — who had penned virulent anti-Semitic messages on social networks — burst into the synagogue armed with an assault rifle and three handguns.

Robert Bowers. Picture: AFP

Stephen Weiss, a member of the congregation who was inside the building, told the Tribune-­Review he heard dozens of shots coming from the front lobby.

“We had services going on in the chapel when we heard a loud noise in the lobby area,” he said.

“I recognised it as gunshots.”

As on any other Saturday, ­people from three different ­congregations were scattered through­out rooms in the building, located in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood that is the heart of Jewish life in greater Pittsburgh.

Bowers entered a room where a baby-naming ceremony was taking place. He rained bullets, killing 11 people, all of them adults.

As he attempted to leave the synagogue, he found himself face-to-face with a uniformed officer calling for reinforcement.

He barricaded himself on the building’s third floor and was taken into custody after a shootout with police.

Twenty minutes after his first shot, Bowers surrendered to officers. He was hospitalised with multiple injuries but authorities said he was in “fine” condition.

Ben Opie, 55, who lives in front of the synagogue, said his wife was heading out for a volunteer shift when police demanded she stay inside. Two hours later, his voice was still trembling. “It’s just,” he said before pausing. “Sorry, it’s shaking me more than usual.”

AFP