A gunman opened fire at a synagogue in California on Saturday, killing one woman and wounding three other people, police said.

A 19-year-old man named as John Earnest was arrested after the attack, in Poway, north of the city of San Diego.

The synagogue had been hosting a Passover celebration when the gunman burst in, reports said.

Police did not suggest a motive but US President Donald Trump said the attack appeared to be "a hate crime".

The attack comes exactly six months after a shooting in Pittsburgh in October 2018 in which 11 people were killed, thought to be the worst anti-Semitic attack in recent US history.

San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore told reporters that investigators were reviewing the suspect's social media activity and examining an anti-Semitic "open letter" published online.

In the letter, which appeared on the online forum 8chan hours before the attack, the author - who identified himself as John Earnest - said he was inspired by the attack on two Christchurch mosques last month, as well as the deadly shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Authorities later said Mr Earnest was under investigation in connection with a fire at a mosque last month.

A makeshift memorial appeared on a corner near the synagogue
"During the shooting, four individuals were wounded and transported to Palomar hospital," Sheriff Gore said. "One succumbed to their wounds. The other three are in stable condition."

Mayor Steve Vaus said the rabbi had been shot in the hand. "For this to happen only a week later at the end of the Passover, only a week after Easter is horrific," Mr Vaus told MSNBC.

How did the attack unfold?

Sheriff Gore said officers were called to the Chabad synagogue just before 11:30 (18:30 GMT) after the man opened fire with an "AR-15 type" assault rifle.

He said an off-duty border patrol officer fired at the suspect as he fled the scene in a vehicle, but did not hit him. The synagogue had been marking the final day of Passover.

The suspect was later arrested by another officer, added San Diego chief of police David Nisleit.

"He clearly saw the suspect's vehicle, the suspect jumped out with his hands up and was immediately taken into custody." he said.

"As the officer was placing this 19-year-old male into custody, he clearly saw a rifle on the front passenger seat of the suspect vehicle."

On Saturday evening a vigil for the victims was held at the Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego.


A candlelight vigil was held at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church


Speaking at a rally in Wisconsin, President Trump denounced the shooting as a "hate crime" and said "America's heart" was with the victims.

"We forcefully condemn the evil of anti-Semitism and hate which must be defeated," he said.

Minoo Anvari, whose husband was inside the synagogue, told the local CNN affiliate that the congregation was "standing together" in the wake of the attack.

"We are strong. You can't break us," she said.

Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Twitter that she was "heartbroken" by the news.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles officials said police patrols would be stepped up around synagogues and other places of worship following Saturday's attack.


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