Revenge on the Sikhs

Six people shot dead at religious temple in Wisconsin

On August 5, a gunman opened fire at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin. The criminal shot six people and wounded three, after which he was killed by a policeman. According to press reports, the shooter was a skinhead - he had a tattoo dedicated to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. US President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney have already expressed their condolences to the relatives of the crime victims.

The first shots were fired at a Sikh temple in the city of Oak Creek (a suburb of Milwaukee) at approximately 10:30 local time (19:30 Moscow time). The criminal entered the temple during a religious ceremony, while the women were preparing Sunday lunch there for a joint meal. The man began shooting from a semi-automatic pistol (according to another version, he opened fire in the parking lot next to the temple).

In the building itself, the criminal killed four, and shot two more next to him. Three people were wounded, including a policeman who was the first to arrive on the scene, and the head of the temple, Satwant Kaleka, who tried to stop the shooter (all of the wounded are in critical condition). Another police officer shot and killed a criminal in a parking lot near the temple.

At the moment of the attack, panic began in the temple. Apparently, because of her, reports appeared that there were several shooters. It later turned out that there was only one perpetrator. His 9mm pistol was found at the crime scene. There was information about another pistol, however, apparently, it was about the weapon of the wounded policeman.

On the same day, a search was carried out at the suspect's house, which is located nearby. According to Reuters , a unit responsible for defusing explosive devices, among others, arrived at the scene. It was not reported whether such devices were found at the suspect's home.

The name of the shooter has not been released. However, a lot of other information about him leaked to the press. He is known to be a white male in his late 40s or early 40s, ex -military , who lived in the area. Witnesses to the crime describe him as a bald (possibly shaved) man, wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants. According to CNN, he had a tattoo on one arm commemorating the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. A publication in The New York Post called him a skinhead.

The Oak Creek Sikh Temple opened in 1999. Its parishioners are 350-400 people. According to the website of the Sikh American Legal Defense organization, which protects the interests of Sikhs, there are about 700 thousand adherents of this religion living in the United States. The website states that 99 percent of US residents who wear turbans are Indian Sikhs. This religion originated in the 15th century in Punjab. Currently, its adherents in the world are 22-25 million people (according to some estimates - more than 30 million). They mainly live in India.

As the Los Angeles Times writes , “some fragments of the suspect’s biography lead to the conclusion that what happened was a terrorist attack (what facts are being discussed is not specified). Authorities are currently trying to find out more about him. For example, it remains to be established whether he left any statements on the Internet before the attack on the temple. Judging by the information currently available, the criminal had no previous connection with the Sikh temple.

City Police Chief John Edwards called the incident a case of "domestic terrorism." This is how the United States calls terrorist attacks committed by residents of the country, and not by foreign extremists. The FBI's statements appear more cautious. They emphasize that the motive for the crime is not yet known. In this department, “domestic terrorism” refers to crimes that have some kind of political background. on July 20 at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado For example, in the massacre that was carried out by James Holmes , no such background was found and what happened is not considered a terrorist attack.

The investigation is being monitored by the Indian Embassy, the country where the majority of the world's Sikhs live. An Indian diplomat was sent to the damaged temple.

Although there is no official word on the motive for the crime, it may have a similar motive to previous attacks on Sikhs in the US. Followers of this religion wear turbans and grow beards, so they are often confused with Muslims. Thus, a Sikh man, Balbir Sodhi, a native of India, was killed at a gas station in Phoenix (Arizona) a few days after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The criminal, 44-year-old Frank Roque, shot him, mistaking him for an Arab. As Rock said, it was the turban and beard that misled him. Sikhs living in the Milwaukee area complained to authorities last year about an increase in attacks on gas stations and stores they own.

Maxim Momot

Revenge on the Sikhs

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