Investigators say that the attacker who opened fire on pupils as they were praying at a church in Minneapolis was 'obsessed with the idea of killing children'.


Robin Westman, who killed two children and injured 18 others, did not seem to have any specific motive, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara.


The attacker 'appeared to hate all of us', the chief said on Thursday, adding: 'More than anything, the shooter wanted to kill children'.


The murdered children have been identified by family as Fletcher Merkel, eight, and Harper Moyski, 10.


Yesterday, a coward decided to take our eight-year-old son Fletcher away from us, his father, Jesse Merkel, told reporters. We will never be able to hold him, talk to him, play with him and watch him grow into the wonderful young man he was on the path to becoming, he said.


Fletcher loved his family, friends, fishing, cooking and any sport that he was allowed to play.


His emotional plea continued as he urged others, Please remember Fletcher for the person he was and not the act that ended his life. Give your kids an extra hug and kiss today. We love you, Fletcher. You'll always be with us.


Harper Moyski’s family described her as a joyful 10-year-old who brought happiness to those around her. They have called for action to prevent gun violence, stating, No family should ever have to endure this kind of pain... Change is possible, and it is necessary - so that Harper's story does not become yet another in a long line of tragedies.


Few details have emerged regarding the suspect's background, but officials revealed that the 23-year-old had previously attended the church's school, where her mother was employed. The attack occurred as she fired through the church’s windows using three firearms, with a smoke bomb found at the scene.


Witness accounts detail the chaos as children fled, stained with blood, crying for help. The incident has been labeled an act of domestic terrorism motivated by a hate-filled ideology, raising urgent concerns about gun control legislation and public safety in the United States.


Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has called for stricter laws on assault weapons, emphasizing that such weapons are unnecessary for civilian ownership. We're not talking about your father's hunting rifle here. We're talking about guns that are built to pierce armor and kill people, he stated.