(Great White) A man killed four people by pulling the faithful of a Michigan Michigan church in the north of the United States, after having smashed the door of the building behind the wheel of his vehicle, in what Donald Trump called “new targeted attack on Christians”.
The suspect, Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, was shot dead by the police eight after the start of the attack during which the church, located in the locality of Grand Blanc Township, was also burned down, the police said, without mentioning a possible mobile.
“It seems to be a new targeted attack on Christians in the United States,” said the American president on his Truth Social network. “This epidemic of violence in our country must stop immediately! “, He added, less than three weeks after the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
Image taken from Donald Trump’s social social account
The attack left at least four dead, two of which were found in the rubble of the calcined church, said William Renye’s police chief at a press conference.
Eight people were injured, one of which is in critical condition.
The FBI, the American federal police, was responsible for leading the investigations and “investigating this as an act of targeted violence,” said FBI Reuben Coleman’s special agent.
At 10:25 am, the alleged shooter, originally from the neighboring locality of Burton, struck the doors of the building behind the wheel of a vehicle, while “hundreds of people” were inside, said William Renye.
Thomas Jacob Sanford, presented in the American press as an army veteran, then opened fire “with an assault rifle”, before being neutralized by two members of the police, he continued. An important fire then had to be extinguished, “lit deliberately by the suspect,” added the police.
Image taken from the account x @Malkowski6 April, provided by Associated Press
In this image taken from a video, enormous flames and smoke rose Sunday from the building of the Church of Jesus Christ from the Holy Days in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
“My husband heard people screaming,” said Dobbie Horkey, who lives less than 200 meters from the church, with AFP. “I heard shots. We all got home and waited. Then the ambulances arrived (…) and we were told that the shooter was neutralized (…) and now, the smoke has spread everywhere. »»
Resumption of political violence
The Mormone Church denounced a “tragic act of violence”. “Places of worship are supposed to be sanctuaries dedicated to peace, prayer and sharing. We pray for the peace and healing of all those concerned, ”she wrote on X.
The Mormone Church, of its official name Church of Jesus Christ of the Saints of the Last Days, says of Christian Confession, but bases his doctrine on the book of Mormon, which the faithful of this religion consider as holy scriptures comprising more words of Jesus Christ than the Bible. The church was established in the Utah American state, where it was founded in 1830.
The United States has experienced a clear revival of political violence in recent years, like the assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10.
Figure of the ultra -conservative right, Mr. Kirk was based on his millions of social networks and his interventions in universities to defend Donald Trump with youth and disseminate his nationalist, Christian and traditionalist ideas on the family.
Photo Lukas Katilius, Associated Press
Help intervenes in front of the church after shots and a fire in Grand Blanc, Michigan on Sunday.
Tyler Robinson, charged for his assassination, is presented by a large part of the right as a “extreme left” killer. The suspect had denounced to his relatives the “hatred” conveyed, according to him, by Charlie Kirk.
Grand White’s attack occurs a month after that perpetrated at the end of August against a church adjoining a Catholic school in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Two children had been killed and around twenty people injured.
