Trial of suspect in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting begins 

The trial of the suspect in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting has begun.

Robert Bowers, 50, is alleged to have opened fire inside the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on 27th October 2018 – a Shabbat morning – armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle and multiple handguns. 

From the three congregations sharing the building that Shabbat morning – Dor Hadash, New Light, and the Tree of Life – eleven worshippers were killed and six were injured, including four police officers.

Mr Bowers’ charges amount to a total of 63 counts of hate crimes resulting in death and eleven counts of obstruction of free exercise of religion resulting in death. Prosecutors also say that Mr Bowers made antisemitic comments at the scene of the attack.

The suspect’s social media footprint allegedly demonstrates a history of fueling antisemitism and expressing hateful rhetoric. Mr Bowers was allegedly particularly active on the platform Gab, where in his bio he asserted that “Jews are the children of Satan.”

Mr Bower’s attorneys reportedly offered a guilty plea in return for a life sentence without parole, however prosecutors have rejected this and instead are seeking the death penalty.

Rabbi Jonathan Perlman took the witness stand, reportedly wearing the same skullcap that he wore the day that Mr Bowers attacked the synagogue, which the police only recently returned to Rabbi Perlman after holding it as evidence for years.

Antisemitic stickers were reportedly found in a Pittsburgh park the day the trial began, and have since been removed. 

According to the FBI, over 60 percent of hate crimes against a religious minority are motivated by antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.