The Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in Pittsburgh
There are multiple casualties at a synagogue in the US city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, after a gunman opened fire during a service on Saturday.
Police have not said how many people died at the Tree of Life synagogue but four officers were among the wounded.
The suspect has not been officially identified but US media have named him as Robert Bowers.
The suspect is in police custody and is being treated in hospital for injuries, officials say.
“It’s a very horrific scene. One of the worst I’ve seen, and I’ve [worked] on some plane crashes. It’s very bad,” Pittsburgh’s Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said.
He would not say how many people had died. He confirmed six people were injured, four of whom are police officers.
Mr Hissrich said there would now be a federal investigation of a hate crime.
The synagogue serves the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood, which has one of the largest Jewish populations in Pennsylvania.
Emergency services arrived at the building at about 10:00 local time (14:00 GMT). A service was taking place at the time.
A reporter at the scene said survivors described hearing the gunman shout anti-Semitic abuse as he entered the building, US media report.
The gunman was reportedly a heavy-set white male with a beard.
According to the reports, he was armed with an assault rifle and two pistols. He was said to have barricaded himself in a room at the synagogue.
Footage broadcast on US news channels showed a police Swat team and ambulances arriving as officers lined the streets. (BBC)
