A shooting at a school in Minneapolis that left two children dead and 17 others injured is being investigated as an anti-Catholic hate crime, according to the FBI.
The FBI is investigating this shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics, FBI Director Kash Patel announced in a post on X.
The two children, aged eight and ten, were killed when an attacker opened fire through the windows of the Annunciation Church on Wednesday morning, while children were present for Mass.
The attacker, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities have not yet revealed a motive for the tragic attack. Mourners gathered at the scene, expressing shock and anger over the violence that unfolded during a church service at the start of the school term.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, expressed his sorrow over the loss of young victims, stating he was profoundly saddened by the tragedy. Police Chief Brian O'Hara condemned the act as a deliberate assault on innocent children and worshipers.
Police received reports of the shooting just before 8:00 AM local time, noting that the attacker used multiple firearms and even deployed a smoke bomb at the scene. Investigations are ongoing, with authorities determining if all the shots were fired from outside or if some originated within the church.
Eyewitness accounts depicted a scene of chaos, with one neighbor recounting helping children escape the carnage. A ten-year-old survivor shared how a friend shielded him from bullets.
The Annunciation Church, serving students aged 5 to 14, was established in a residential area where the suspect's mother was formerly employed.
As reactions to the tragedy unfold, Mayor Jacob Frey called for unity against the hatred directed towards the transgender community, while Governor Tim Walz highlighted the recurring nature of such violence across the nation.
In a move to honor the victims, the US flag will be flown at half-mast at the White House.
