FBI investigates school firing in Minneapolis as an anti -catholic crime of hatred

Shooting at a school in Minneapolis, which left two children killed and 17 other injured are investigated as an anti -catholic crime of hatred, says the FBI.

“The FBI is investigating this firing as an act of internal terrorism and hate crimes aimed at Catholics,” said FBI Director Kash Patel in a publication of X.

The two children, eight and 10 years old, were killed when a striker opened fire through the windows of the City Church for Annunciation Wednesday morning while the children celebrated a liturgy.

The attacker, who died in place of a self-inflicted firearm wound, was later called by police as 23-year-old Robin Westman.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, was among those who paid tribute to the young victims, saying he was “deep saddened” by the attack.

Police chief Brian O’Hara told reporters: “It was a deliberate violence against innocent children and other people who worship.”

“Pure cruelty and cowardice from shooting in a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible,” he said.

Asked about Patel’s comment, he said that the Minneapolis police department is conducting the investigation with the support of federal agencies – and will pursue evidence wherever it leads.

Authorities have not yet released a suspected motive for the attack.

Police started receiving shooting calls shortly before 08:00 local time (13:00 GMT) on Wednesday.

The attacker approached the side of the church, which also housed a school, and fired dozens of shots through the windows, using three firearms – a rifle, a rifle and a gun. Police also found a smoke bomb at the scene.

Officials are investigating whether the suspect was fired inside the building or all the shots came outside the church, noting that no bullets were found inside.

“I heard” Boom, Boom, Boom, “said Pj Mudd, who lives near the church and worked from home on Wednesday morning, told The Wall Street Journal.” Suddenly, it was a shooting. “

He then ran to the church, where he saw three cartridges of magazines on Earth.

A 10-year-old boy who survived the attack told a CBS WCCO branch that his friend had saved him from bullets, lying on top of him.

“I was like two stained glass places,” he said. “My friend, Victor, saved me because he was lying on top of me, but he hit.”

“My friend hit the back, he went to the hospital … I was super scared for him, but I think it’s good now,” he said.

The Church of the State, located in a residential area of ​​Southern Minneapolis, teaches students between the ages of 5 and 14.

The attacker’s mother, Mary Grace Westman, had previously worked at the school, according to a 2016 school newsletter, a Facebook publication says she has retired from the role in 2021.

Police found a note that Westman plans to publish online during the shooting. Since then, investigators have deleted the publication.

Westman’s name was legally changed by Robin to Robin in 2020, according to Minnesota court records. In the application, the judge writes: “The minor child identifies as a woman and wants her name to reflect this identification.”

As he spoke at a press conference on Wednesday, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey pulled away against a hatred aimed at the transgender community as a result of the attack.

In his own updates, Interior Security Minister Christy Nova said Westman was “a man, claiming to be transsexual”, and in his post on X, Patel pointed to Westman as a “man”.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said President Donald Trump and his team had expressed their “deep condolences” and offered help.

He said the situation was “too common – not only in Minnesota, but also throughout the country,” adding that he hoped that no community or school should have never had to go through the day like this.

Trump later said the US flag would be broadcast on a White House half-like to show respect for victims.