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Charleston church shooting: Police hunt suspected killer Charleston church shooting: Police hunt suspected killer
(34 minutes later)
US police are hunting for a man they suspect of shooting dead nine people at a historic African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina.US police are hunting for a man they suspect of shooting dead nine people at a historic African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina.
Officials released CCTV images of a man they said was white, in his early 20s, and sat in on a bible study meeting for an hour before opening fire. Multiple US media reports, citing the FBI and other authorities, have named the suspect as 21-year-old Dylann Roof of Lexington, South Carolina.
Six women and three men were killed, including the church pastor and local state senator Clementa Pinckney. Police said the gunman sat in a bible study meeting for up to an hour before opening fire, killing six women and three men including the church pastor.
Federal authorities are to investigate the killings as a hate crime. Officials have called it a hate crime.
The Justice Department said its investigation would be "parallel to and co-operative with the state's investigation". The US Justice Department said it would carry out a federal hate crimes investigation in "parallel to and co-operative with the state's investigation".
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The weekly bible study meeting was under way in the church on Calhoun Street when the shooting unfolded at about 21:00 local time (01:00 GMT Thursday).The weekly bible study meeting was under way in the church on Calhoun Street when the shooting unfolded at about 21:00 local time (01:00 GMT Thursday).
Charleston police chief Gregory Mullen said that when police arrived at the scene eight people were already dead in the church and that one other person died later in hospital. There were three survivors, he added.Charleston police chief Gregory Mullen said that when police arrived at the scene eight people were already dead in the church and that one other person died later in hospital. There were three survivors, he added.
One woman survivor told her family that the gunman said he was letting her live so she could report what happened, according to the Charleston Post and Courier.One woman survivor told her family that the gunman said he was letting her live so she could report what happened, according to the Charleston Post and Courier.
Police described the suspect as white, aged 21-25, and clean shaven with a slender build. They said he was wearing a grey sweatshirt, blue jeans and Timberland boots.Police described the suspect as white, aged 21-25, and clean shaven with a slender build. They said he was wearing a grey sweatshirt, blue jeans and Timberland boots.
They released images from surveillance cameras showing him at the church, and also of a black four-door saloon car he was seen driving away in.They released images from surveillance cameras showing him at the church, and also of a black four-door saloon car he was seen driving away in.
"This is a very dangerous individual who should not be approached," Mr Mullen said."This is a very dangerous individual who should not be approached," Mr Mullen said.
Members of the community reacted with shock and sadness at the news. Some residents formed prayer circles outside the church. Within a few hours of the release of the photos, US media were quoting the FBI among other authorities as confirming the suspect to be Mr Roof.
His uncle, Carson Cowles, was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying he had recognised his nephew from the photo.
He described him as quiet and soft-spoken, and said he had received a .45-calibre pistol for his birthday, Reuters reports.
News of the shooting was met with shock and sadness within the community. Some residents formed prayer circles outside the church.
Charleston Mayor Joe Riley called it "an unfathomable and unspeakable" tragedy. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott tweeted: "My heart is breaking for Charleston and South Carolina tonight."Charleston Mayor Joe Riley called it "an unfathomable and unspeakable" tragedy. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott tweeted: "My heart is breaking for Charleston and South Carolina tonight."
Bystander Shona Holmes said: "It's just hurtful to think that someone would come in and shoot people in a church. If you're not safe in church, where are you safe?"Bystander Shona Holmes said: "It's just hurtful to think that someone would come in and shoot people in a church. If you're not safe in church, where are you safe?"
The Emanuel AME ChurchThe Emanuel AME Church
Charleston church's important roleCharleston church's important role
Profile: Pastor Clementa PinckneyProfile: Pastor Clementa Pinckney
Among the dead was the high-profile 42-year-old pastor of the church Clementa Pinckney, a father of two who was also a Democratic state Senator in South Carolina.Among the dead was the high-profile 42-year-old pastor of the church Clementa Pinckney, a father of two who was also a Democratic state Senator in South Carolina.
His fellow senator Kent Williams said his death was hard to believe.His fellow senator Kent Williams said his death was hard to believe.
"It's devastating, devastating that someone would go into God's house and commit such a crime," he told CNN. "It's just a huge, huge loss.""It's devastating, devastating that someone would go into God's house and commit such a crime," he told CNN. "It's just a huge, huge loss."
Senator Pinckney had recently sponsored a bill to make body cameras mandatory for all police officers in South Carolina.Senator Pinckney had recently sponsored a bill to make body cameras mandatory for all police officers in South Carolina.
The legislation was in response to the death two months ago of Walter Scott, an unarmed black man who was fatally shot by a white police officer in North Charleston.The legislation was in response to the death two months ago of Walter Scott, an unarmed black man who was fatally shot by a white police officer in North Charleston.
The shooting prompted angry protests and highlighted racial tension in the city. The officer has since been charged with murder.The shooting prompted angry protests and highlighted racial tension in the city. The officer has since been charged with murder.
Are you in the area? Did you witness the incident? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience.Are you in the area? Did you witness the incident? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience.
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