One Dead, At Least 5 Shot At Seattle Jewish Center

[Jeff High]

SEATTLE - A man walked into the Jewish Federation Center at 3rd and Virginia in Seattle and opened fire Friday afternoon, killing one and wounding five others; suspect in custody.

KOMO news 4 Seattle

How come nobody in the national media has said anything about this yet? And why doesn't someone call this what it is, a Terrorist act.

A man of middle eastern decent walks in and witnesses report he said
"I am a muslum and I am upset with Israel" and starts shooting.

Jeff High
US Cavalry

[Jeff High]

update

SEATTLE - One person was killed and five women were wounded by gunshots Friday afternoon at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and one person was arrested, police said.

All five of the wounded were taken to Harborview Medical Center, where three are listed in critical condition and two are listed in satisfactory condition. One victim was reportedly shot in the stomach, another was a 37-year-old woman who was 20 weeks pregnant and was shot in the arm. She is said to be one of the two in satisfactory condition.

A SWAT team searched the federation building, looking for any other victims or anyone hiding, Seattle police spokesman Rich Pruitt said, adding investigators were confident that the man they had in custody was the only shooting suspect.

Several witnesses said they saw the man walk up and shoot a woman in the leg on a sidewalk near the building just after 4 o'clock. One witness, who refused to give his name, said that shooting was just outside a nearby Starbucks. There was a small pool of blood outside that coffee shop.

Amy Wasser-Simpson, vice president for planning and community services at the Jewish Federation told The Seattle Times the man then got through security at the building and told staff members: "I'm Muslim-American. I'm angry at Israel," then began shooting.

"A number of staff people heard some popping sounds, then they heard a scream," Wasser-Simpson said. "They escaped out the back door."

One staff member who was shot twice escaped through the back door, Wasser-Simpson said.

Police say the gunman then called 911 from inside the building to say what he had done and where to find him. When police arrived, the gunman surrendered, police say.



Patti Simon was at work at the federation's newspaper on the first floor when she heard screaming, shots and what sounded like furniture crashing on the floor above.

"We heard this horrible screaming on the floor above us and shots," said Simon, 52, who sells advertising at the paper. "We didn't know what was happening."

Simon called up to her co-workers on the second floor, but got no answer, so she called the police and fled the building.

"People got shot, some of our co-workers," Simon said, her voice shaking. "I just got back from Israel and made it out of there a half hour before the rockets started."

Simon said the federation has security in the building.

"Somebody must have lied their way in," Simon said.

Police blocked off several city blocks and evacuated several nearby buildings as they investigated.

Police say they believe the gunman was acting alone and not part of any larger organization.

FBI Special Agent Fred Gutts says on July 21 and 26, the Seattle office sent general warnings to local law enforcement agencies in the state to be on heightened alert around Jewish-related buildings given the hostilities in the Middle East. He said local law enforcement agencies would then do what they deemed appropriate.

Agent Gutts said the FBI had no persons on any watch list as being likely persons to make threats or do harm. He also said there was no specific evidence of any threat against any jewish organization or other target. the warnings were just general.

Seattle Police say they will have a larger presence at area synagogues and other Jewish organizations and are asking other area law enforcements to do the same.

[Woodmonkey]

It sure sounds like terrorism to me. Was it really a Muslim, or did the man just say it was? I just turned on NW News and they are talking about it now. First I've heard of it. Thanks, Jeff.

A man has been arrested and is a Pakistani.

He called the police himself and said he'd shot people.

[Scrappy]

And we're asking Israel to cease fire I just saw this info on tv; making the Medina/Mecca scenario someone brought up a better and better looking option Word for the day RATs=Random Acts of Terrorism grrrrrrr

Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammo

[milmor_1]

Once again it smacks of political sensitivity. That is dont mention the M (Moslem) or I (Islamic) words or we might be accused of agitation or insulting behaviour.

If a guy or indeed anyone, walks into a building and shouts out "I am a Moslem" and proceeds to murder people, and it is subsequently proven that they are what they say they are then it should be reported as a proven fact.

Irrespective of any religious or political beliefs declared by the murderer it is TERRORISM and no two ways about it.

We should always be equally prepared to condemn all murders which are committed to make a political gain or statement. No mather who does it.

[Scrappy]

Good point, send him to Gitmo. Then try him in Miami, and execute him in Texas.

[Woodmonkey]

Our news shows out this way are labeling this as a hate crime aimed at Jews. They are clear that he is a Pakistani Muslim also allegedly doing this to protest what is happening in Lebanon.