FBI investigating shooting as act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics
The FBI is investigating the school shooting in Minneapolis as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics, the bureau’s director Kash Patel has announced in a post on X.
Patel continued:
There were 2 fatalities, an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old. In addition, 14 children and 3 adults were injured. The shooter has been identified as Robin Westman, a male born as Robert Westman. The FBI will continue to provide updates on our ongoing investigation with the public as we are able.
Updated at 16.24 EDT
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What we know so far
Here is a look at what we know so far about the shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning:
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Two people were killed, including an 8-year old and a 10-year old.
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17 people were injured, including 14 children and 3 adults.
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All of the remaining victims are expected to survive, according to law enforcement. “There is a wide range of injures, however,” said Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara.
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There was a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol which had all been lawfully purchased by the shooter, law enforcement said, adding that they believe the shooter acted alone.
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The shooter has been named as Robin Westman, 23, by local news outlets. Westman reportedly grew up in Richfield, Minnesota, and his mother worked at Annunciation School.
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The FBI is investigating the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics, the bureau’s director Kash Patel has announced.
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Law enforcement is aware of a manifesto the shooter appeared to want to post on Youtube. O’Hara said the content included “disturbing writings,” adding that the content has been taken down with the FBI’s assistance and is under active review.
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Donald Trump has ordered American flags to be flown at half-mast following the mass shooting until August 31.
Speaking at the news conference, Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara said law enforcement is aware of a manifesto the shooter appeared to want to post on Youtube.
O’Hara said the content included “disturbing writings,” adding that the content has been taken down with the FBI’s assistance and is under active review.
Asked if this is being investigated as a hate crime targeting Catholics, O’Hara repeats that there is no motive established at this time.
He gives the same answer when asked if it’s being treated as domestic terrorism, per the FBI.
Updated at 16.26 EDT
Police chief confirms shooter had manifesto but refused to be drawn on potential motive
There is no update to share on a motive at this time, O’Hara says, adding that investigators have search warrants for three locations.
He earlier told the news conference the shooter had scheduled a manifesto to be released on YouTube.
O’Hara said it “appeared to show him at the scene and included some disturbing writings”.
He added that the content has now been taken down with the assistance of the FBI.
Updated at 16.31 EDT
All injured expected to survive, police say
All of the remaining victims are expected to survive, O’Hara has just told reporters. “There is a wide range of injures, however,” he adds without elaborating further.
Updated at 16.14 EDT
Minnesota governor Tim Walz also told the news conference that the shooting will have a lasting impact on the community after the news cycle move on.
“A lot of cameras here, and unfortunately, we’ve been through these types of things. They will be gone at some point. All of you, you have to do your jobs,” Walz said, referring to reporters. “But what happened here today will not be gone.”
Minnesotans will not step away. We’ll stand with this community.
Updated at 16.25 EDT
Firearms were lawfully purchased by the shooter, police confirm
There was a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol which had all been lawfully purchased by the shooter, O’Hara said, adding it is believed the shooter acted alone.
Updated at 15.58 EDT
At this point, there are 19 victims –two children aged eight and 10 who were pronounced dead on the scene.
Another 14 children were injured along with three adults in their 80s who were parishioners, Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara said in an update.
Updated at 16.25 EDT
Minneapolis mayor calls for action on gun violence and hits out at those ‘villainizing trans community’
“Anybody who is using this as an opportunity to villainize our trans community has lost their sense of common humanity,” said Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey just now.
We should not be operating from a place of hate for anyone. We should be operating from a place of love for our kids. This is about them.
“As horrible as this has been, it could have been far worse,” Frey went on.
I think the impetus has to be on all of us as leaders to do a whole lot more to recognise that we’ve got more guns in this country than we have people. And it’s on all of us to recognize the truth and the reality that we can’t just say that this should not happen again and then allow it to happen again and again beyond that.
Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey sitting on steps of the Annunciation Church’s school as police responded to the mass shooting earlier today. Photograph: Abbie Parr/APShare
Updated at 16.25 EDT
“It’s certainly a day and a news conference that no one wants to be at,” Minnesota governor Tim Walz has just told the news conference on the shooting.
Children were met with “evil and horror and death”, he said, adding:
We often come to these and say these are unspeakable tragedies or there are no words for this. There shouldn’t be words for these kinds of incidents because they should not happen. And there’s no words that are going to ease the pain of the families today.
Updated at 16.25 EDT
Pope Leo ‘profoundly saddened’ by school shooting
Pope Leo XIV was “profoundly saddened” to learn of the deaths and injuries from the mass shooting, the Vatican said in a statement reported by CNN.
“He sends his heartfelt condolences and the assurance of spiritual closeness to all those affected by this terrible tragedy, especially the families now grieving the loss of a child,” said Vatican secretary of state Pietro Parolin.
The Pope is praying for the victims, first responders and clergy, and sends his blessings to the school and community, Parolin added.
Updated at 16.25 EDT