U.S. President Donald Trump ordered flags lowered to half-staff following a shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that killed two children and injured 17 others on Wednesday.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the victims were aged eight and 10 and were killed while sitting in the pews. “Seventeen other people were injured, 14 of them children. Two of those children are in critical condition,” he said.
The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, allegedly acted alone and later died by suicide at the scene, according to O’Hara.
“He did not have an extensive known criminal record,” the police chief added.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the shooting was being investigated as “an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics.”
Patel confirmed the suspect’s identity on social media, adding, “There were two fatalities, an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old. In addition, 14 children and three adults were injured. The shooter has been identified as Robin Westman, a male born as Robert Westman.”
Officers responded to an “active police situation” at the church, which also hosts a school serving students from preschool to eighth grade. The Minneapolis Police Department said there was “no active threat to the community” once the shooter had been contained.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz confirmed the incident, saying the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and State Patrol were on the scene.
“I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence,” he wrote on social media.
Hennepin Healthcare, which operates hospitals in the Minneapolis area, said it was treating patients from the shooting.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi added, “Our prayers are with everyone involved in this tragedy. Our team will provide updates as we receive them.”
President Trump’s proclamation orders all U.S. flags flown at half-staff until Sunday at public buildings, military posts, naval vessels, and U.S. facilities abroad.
U.S. intelligence sources indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin still intends to take control of all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe t...
AnewZ has premiered The Oligarch’s Design, a long-form investigative documentary marking the launch of AnewZ Investigations, the channel’s new edi...
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip....
The United States says it is working to secure a renewed ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, expressing cautious optimism that an agreement could...
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Tokyo represents more than a strengthening of bilateral relations; it is a strategic step tha...
U.S. intelligence sources indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin still intends to take control of all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe that once belonged to the Soviet Union. These assessments contradict Putin’s repeated claims that he poses no threat to Europe.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Tokyo represents more than a strengthening of bilateral relations; it is a strategic step that broadens the economic and diplomatic horizons of the region.
The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that they are willing to pursue a ceasefire, as tensions flared along parts of the two countries’ shared border.
Ukraine has welcomed the European Union’s decision to provide €90 billion in support over the next two years, calling it a vital lifeline even as the bloc failed to reach agreement on using frozen Russian assets to finance the aid.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that attempts to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine are being undermined by Russia’s continued refusal to engage meaningfully in negotiations.
Petroleum products are being transported by rail from Azerbaijan to Armenia for the first time in decades. The move is hailed as a tangible breakthrough in efforts to normalise relations between the long-time rivals.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held a phone conversation with his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil at the latter’s request.
A rare pair of bright-green Nike “Grinch” sneakers worn and signed by the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant have gone on public display in Beverly Hills, ahead of an auction that could set a new record for sports memorabilia.
U.S. intelligence sources indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin still intends to take control of all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe that once belonged to the Soviet Union. These assessments contradict Putin’s repeated claims that he poses no threat to Europe.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
The United States says it is working to secure a renewed ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, expressing cautious optimism that an agreement could be reached early next week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.
Iran has called for greater international support in hosting millions of Afghan refugees, warning that it is becoming increasingly difficult to manage the long-term humanitarian burden without a fair sharing of responsibilities.
Ukraine has carried out its first aerial drone strike on a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea, reflecting a growing intensity in Kyiv’s attacks on Russian oil shipping, officials said on Friday (19 December).
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment