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By Kalhan Rosenblatt and Tom Winter
A suspect was in custody Saturday morning after a deadly shootout with several victims near the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, where Sabbath services were held, according to local officials.
At least 12 people were injured, three of whom appeared to be law enforcement officials and at least eight were victims, according to preliminary information provided by several senior law enforcement officials.
It is believed that the suspect was armed with an AR-15 rifle and several handguns.
The Pittsburgh Police Commander, Jason Lando, said that there were several casualties and that it was imperative that neighbors in the surrounding area be on the spot safe.
"Do not go out, it's not safe," said Lando.
Pittsburgh Public Safety tweeted On Saturday morning, there was an active shooter in the area around the synagogue and said to avoid the area.
Jeff Finkelstein, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh since 2004, told WPXI, the affiliate of NBC News, that he had rushed to the area after hearing about the shooting.
"I feel horrible for all those people inside," said Finkelstein. "You know, everyone thinks of Israel in situations like this. It's shocking to come back to Squirrel Hill and see something like that. "
Officers from the Pittsburgh Field Office at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also responding to the shooting.
"There is an active shooter near the tree of life at Squirrel Hill." Residents, stay inside .Our officers are on the scene, "said Pittsburgh City Councilor, Corey O & # 39; ; Connor. Twitter.
President Trump tweeted about the Saturday shootout, saying he was closely monitoring the events unfolding at Squirrel Hill.
"People in the Squirrel Hill area should stay in the shelter, it looks like many people are dead, pay attention to the active shooter, God bless everything!" Trump wrote.
Vice President Mike Pence also tweeted his prayers to the victims and said that he was also watching the situation.
"We have seen reports of shooting in Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue, praying for the dead, wounded, all affected families and our brave first responders," Pence wrote. "God bless them all."
Pennsylvania's Governor, Tom Wolf, tweeted that Pennsylvania State Police were also participating in the shooting.
"We are still learning the details of the shootings in the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, but the situation is serious … keep the faithful and the police in your prayers," Wolf wrote.
The services of the morning of Shabbat began at 9:45 am to the congregation of Tree of Life, according to its website. The conservative congregation was founded more than 150 years ago and is led by Rabbi Hazan Jeffrey Myers, who arrived at the synagogue in August 2017.
Saturday morning is the day that Shabbat is observed in the Jewish religion and is usually a peak period in synagogues.
Squirrel Hill is considered a historic Jewish enclave and center for Jewish life in Pittsburgh, and is home to over a quarter of Jewish households in the Pittsburgh area, according to a study by Brandeis University on the Greater Pittsburgh Jewish community. More than 80% of Squirrel Hill residents said they were worried or very concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism. According to the study, many people have also reported antisemitic experiences over the past year, ranging from insults and stereotypes to physical threats.
This is a new development. Come back for more information.
Phil McCausland contributed.
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