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, the FBI says.
The FBI is investigating this shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics, FBI Director Kash Patel stated.
The two children, aged 8 and 10, were killed when an attacker opened fire through the windows of the city's Annunciation Church on Wednesday morning as children were attending Mass.
The attacker, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, took his own life at the scene.
Pope Leo XIV expressed his profound sadness over the incident, stating his condolences to the victims' families.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara deemed the shooting a deliberate act of violence against innocent children, highlighting the sheer cruelty of the act.
Authorities are yet to disclose a potential motive for the attack, which took place just before 08:00 local time on Wednesday. The shooter used three firearms, including a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol, leading to numerous injuries among attendees.
Survivors described horrific moments, with one 10-year-old boy stating his friend had shielded him from gunfire by laying on top of him.
The perpetrator's connection to the church and school community raises further questions, as his mother previously worked there. A note intended for online publication was found but has since been removed by investigators.
Governor Tim Walz commented on the tragedy, reflecting on the frequency of such incidents nationwide and the urgent need for change to avoid future occurrences.
