The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has said that it is investigating whether the shooting at a gurdwara in the US is an act of “domestic” terrorism.“While the FBI is investigating whether this matter might be an act of domestic terrorism, no motive has been determined at this time,” the FBI Milwaukee special agent-in-charge Teresa Carlson said in a late night statement, hours after the local police termed the tragic incident as an act of domestic terrorism. The FBI is working closely with the Oak Creek Police department and other local and federal agencies to investigate Sunday’s shooting incident, Carlson said. The country’s premier investigative agency has launched an in-depth investigation into the shooting incident in which at least seven people including the alleged shooter was killed, that sent shocked waves throughout the country. “We know our community has been deeply impacted by this incident, and our thoughts are with those affected and particularly with the officer who was wounded in the line of duty to protect others,” the FBI said. While the name of the alleged gunman has not been released yet, Thomas Ahern, a spokesman with the ATF’s Chicago division, described him as a white male roughly 40 years of age, CNN has reported. The motive of the shooting has not been determined yet, even as security authorities late on Sunday surrounded a duplex in Cudahy neighbourhood, where the shooter apparently lived. Federal law enforcement officials told NBC News the suspected gunman had no obvious connection to domestic terror or white supremacist groups and apparently was not on any list of suspected terrorists. The suspect was in his early 40s, and while he had an arrest record, it was for minor traffic offenses, a federal official said, NBC reported. A law enforcement official told NBC News the gunman was dressed in a white T-shirt and black tactical-style pants, which had several pockets for holding ammunition magazines. He was armed with a single handgun, the official said. Though the name of the gunman was not released but police say they have a tentative ID and were searching his home. The location was not disclosed, the news channel said. Officials told the news channel that the alleged shooter, who served in the US Army, had many tattoos. Obama takes stock of situation US President Barack Obama reviewed the security situation with his top national security aides following the tragic shooting in a gurdwara in Wisconsin and also called on gurdwara trustee to offer his condolences. Obama convened a call with the FBI Director Robert Mueller, the chief of staff Jack Lew, and the homeland security advisor John Brennan on Sunday to receive an update on the tragic shooting in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, the White House said. Following the briefing, the Obama called Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, Oak Creek mayor Steve Scaffidi and trustee of the gurdwara Charanjeet Singh to express his condolences for the lives lost and his concern for those who were injured. A tragic day, say US lawmakers Condemning the gurdwara shooting in Wisconsin as a “senseless” act of terrorism, the US lawmakers have termed it as a “tragic” day. “This is a tragic day for our city and for all communities of faith who share grief and concern for the victims of today’s shooting and their loved ones,” Wisconsin senator, Herb Kohl said in a statement. “We also share a deep gratitude to our law enforcement officers. Our prayers are with Milwaukee’s entire Sikh community and we wish them comfort and peace,” the senator said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the families of yet another senseless act of violence in America,” senator Ron Johnson said. Johnson said that he have full confidence in the legal authorities that will be investigating this heinous crime. At least seven people have been killed after an armed man opened fire at a Sikh temple near Milwaukee, in the US state of Wisconsin, authorities say. The suspected shooter is believed to be among those killed. Police were called to the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in the suburb of Oak Creek, where witnesses said several dozen people were gathering for a service on Sunday. Authorities found four people dead inside the temple and two outside, Bradley Wentlandt, police chief of nearby Greenfield, said. Sunny Singh, 21, of Milwaukee, said a friend pulled into the temple’s parking lot, heard shots and saw two people fall down. The friend then saw the shooter reload his weapons and head to the temple’s entrance, Singh said. The first police officer to arrive at the temple engaged in gunfire outside the building with a man police believe was the shooter, Wentlandt said. The suspect was killed, he said. Tactical units went through the temple, and authorities do not believe a second shooter was involved, Wentlandt said. Shot multiple times It is unclear how many others were wounded. Wentlandt said he had been told the officer who exchanged gunfire with the suspect and another person had been taken to hospitals. He said the officer was shot multiple times and is in surgery and is expected to survive. The spokeswoman for the area trauma center said three victims were being treated there, including one who was in surgery. Jatin Der Mangat, 38, of Racine, the nephew of the temple’s president, Satwant Singh Kaleka, said his uncle was one of those shot, but he didn’t know how serious his injuries were. He was among those waiting for news when police announced the deaths. “It was like the heart just sat down,” he said. “This shouldn’t happen anywhere.” Sukhwindar Nagr, also of Racine, said he called his brother-in-law’s phone and a priest at the temple answered and told him that his brother-in-law had been shot, along with three priests. The priest also said women and children were hiding in closets in the temple, Nagr said. Wentlandt did not identify the suspect or say what might have motivated the shootings. ‘Mistaken for Muslims’ Sikhism is a monotheistic faith that was founded in South Asia more than 500 years ago. It has roughly 27 million followers worldwide. Observant Sikhs do not cut their hair; male followers often cover their heads with turbans – which are considered sacred – and refrain from shaving their beards. There are roughly 500,000 Sikhs in the US, according to estimates. The majority worldwide live in India. Sikh rights groups have reported a rise in bias attacks since the September 11, 2001, attacks in the US. The Washington-based Sikh Coalition has reported more than 700 incidents in the US since then, which advocates blame on anti-Islamic sentiment. Sikhs do not practise the same religion as Muslims, but their long beards and turbans often cause them to be mistaken for Muslims, advocates say. |
A gunman opened fire on a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin on Sunday.
The suspect was killed by a police officer after an exchange of fire.
According to the AP, at least 6 other people were killed and many others injured. Police said that they did not believe there was a second shooter.
Witnesses and bystanders surrounded the temple while police patroled the area.
Photos from the scene below:
Religions never set people free ; they never failed to try so hard to get into any individual’s skin, one over the other and they get more abusive, fanatical and extreme by all measure. Of course there are some who can never say NO even they were asked whether they have a preference of another or a choice not having at all, it is extreme and that is pretty nasty and abusive of religions! So can religions a cause to set people free when there is no individual freedom and how can there be any wisdom?
And why not religions are also known as diseases of mankind? And religions can never be fair when one cannot have a personal choice and who do you think what religion are other than bigotry?
Muslims cried foul and accused UMNO of betraying the Muslims, who always supported the party, by aligning with MCA president Chua Soi Lek
Wisconsin Shooting
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