A gunman who allegedly said he was "angry at Israel" killed a woman and wounded five others Friday in a Jewish community centre in Seattle, according to local news reports and police.
Federal agents of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force were among the phalanx of police who responded to the afternoon attack at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle offices in the north-western US city. Police declared the shooting a "hate crime" carried out by a lone gunman with animosity toward Israel but no apparent links to known terrorist groups.
One woman died at the scene of the shooting, according to police. Five women were wounded, including one who was pregnant, and they were being treated at Harborview Medical Centre in Seattle, according to officials there.
The alleged gunman got past security at the federation's administrative building and began shooting with a large-caliber semiautomatic gun, according to police Chief Gil Kerlikowske. The shootings began shortly after 4:00 pm (2300 GMT).