Shooting suspect in US shouted ‘Free Palestine’ – witness
One man was killed and several others were wounded on Saturday evening when a gunman opened fire at a country club in Nashua, New Hampshire, with a witness claiming the shooter shouted “Free Palestine.”
Police officers responded to emergency calls from the Sky Meadow Country Club after reports of gunfire, with initial findings suggesting that a single adult male entered the premises and fired several shots, Attorney General John M. Formella and Nashua Police Chief Kevin Rourke said in a statement.
The suspect was detained on the scene, and police said there was no ongoing threat to the public. Authorities said video surveillance confirmed that early reports of two shooters were incorrect.
Witness Tom Bartelson, who was attending a wedding at the club, told local broadcaster WHDH that he heard about six shots but did not realize what the noise was at first. Bartelson added that the gunman appeared to target a specific person and shouted “the children are safe” and “free Palestine.”
When asked about a possible motive, New Hampshire Assistant Attorney General Peter Hinckley declined to speculate, saying, “We’re dealing with the facts and information that we gather … and once we have a motive, we can share.”
Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess called the incident a “tragedy,” saying, “One loss of life is still too many.”
The Israel-Hamas war has heightened tensions in the US, where both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups have staged frequent demonstrations, which at times have led to confrontations, including scuffles on university campuses and clashes between protesters in major cities.
