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Charleston shootings: Emanuel AME church reopens | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
People are queuing up to enter the African-American church in which nine parishioners were shot dead in South Carolina, as it reopens for services. | |
Some members of Emanuel AME church met again on Saturday in the room where their friends died on Wednesday. | |
Many people are expected to attend the main service at 09:00 (13:00 GMT). | |
Meanwhile, police are investigating an online post, possibly by the gunman, which appears to outline his motivation for the attack. | |
Bullet holes removed | |
One of those who attended Saturday's meeting, Harold Washington, said the church's doors would be open to all. | |
"It's a church of the Lord - you don't turn nobody down." | "It's a church of the Lord - you don't turn nobody down." |
Mr Washington said the cleaners had to cut bullet holes out of the walls so that members of the congregation would not see them on Sunday. | |
Bells at more than a dozen churches will also ring simultaneously throughout the state of South Carolina in a sign of solidarity. | |
According to AP, some worshippers were allowed in through a side door to attend a Sunday school ahead of the main service. | |
Survivors say Dylann Roof spent close to an hour attending a church service on Wednesday before opening fire. | Survivors say Dylann Roof spent close to an hour attending a church service on Wednesday before opening fire. |
Crowds gathered outside the historic church on Saturday to hear pastors from across the US lead prayers. Many travelled hundreds of kilometres from across the country to pay their respects. | Crowds gathered outside the historic church on Saturday to hear pastors from across the US lead prayers. Many travelled hundreds of kilometres from across the country to pay their respects. |
"There was an overwhelming feeling that made me drive here," said Monte Talmadge, a 62-year-old army veteran who drove nearly 300 miles (480km) to get to Charleston. | "There was an overwhelming feeling that made me drive here," said Monte Talmadge, a 62-year-old army veteran who drove nearly 300 miles (480km) to get to Charleston. |
A rally was also held in the city by the Black Lives Matter movement, which began after the 2013 acquittal of George Zimmerman over the killing of an unarmed African-American teenager, Trayvon Martin. | A rally was also held in the city by the Black Lives Matter movement, which began after the 2013 acquittal of George Zimmerman over the killing of an unarmed African-American teenager, Trayvon Martin. |
'Take it down' | 'Take it down' |
In South Carolina's state capital, Columbia, protests took place to demand the removal of the Confederate flag from the capitol building. | In South Carolina's state capital, Columbia, protests took place to demand the removal of the Confederate flag from the capitol building. |
The flag was a symbol used by southern states in the civil war, when they tried to break away to prevent the abolition of slavery. | The flag was a symbol used by southern states in the civil war, when they tried to break away to prevent the abolition of slavery. |
It is viewed by many as a sign of the white supremacy advocated by those states at the time. | It is viewed by many as a sign of the white supremacy advocated by those states at the time. |
The protest followed US President Barack Obama's remark that the flag belonged "in a museum". | The protest followed US President Barack Obama's remark that the flag belonged "in a museum". |
Protesters chanted "Take it down" and sang We Shall Overcome, an anthem of the black civil rights movement. | Protesters chanted "Take it down" and sang We Shall Overcome, an anthem of the black civil rights movement. |
On Friday, South Carolina's Republican state representative Doug Brannon told MSNBC that he planned to introduce legislation to remove the flag. | On Friday, South Carolina's Republican state representative Doug Brannon told MSNBC that he planned to introduce legislation to remove the flag. |
On Saturday, images emerged on a website showing Dylann Roof posing with the Confederate flag. In others, he is seen burning the US flag and visiting a former slave plantation. | On Saturday, images emerged on a website showing Dylann Roof posing with the Confederate flag. In others, he is seen burning the US flag and visiting a former slave plantation. |
In one image, he is shown staring down the camera while sitting on a chair in camouflage trousers holding a gun. | In one image, he is shown staring down the camera while sitting on a chair in camouflage trousers holding a gun. |
It is unclear who posted the images on the site, which was found on Saturday. | It is unclear who posted the images on the site, which was found on Saturday. |
The website - since taken down - also carried a 2,000-word racist manifesto, the origins of which are also unknown. | The website - since taken down - also carried a 2,000-word racist manifesto, the origins of which are also unknown. |
The author says Charleston was chosen for the attack because of its history of slavery and its large black population. | The author says Charleston was chosen for the attack because of its history of slavery and its large black population. |
Internet records suggest the website's domain was registered in February but it is unclear who was behind it. | Internet records suggest the website's domain was registered in February but it is unclear who was behind it. |
The FBI says it is investigating the website. | |
Data from the images show many of them were taken in April and May this year. | Data from the images show many of them were taken in April and May this year. |
The victims | The victims |
The victims of the Charleston shooting | The victims of the Charleston shooting |