The gunman who opened fire in a Pittsburgh synagogue didn’t want any of the Jews inside to live, he told police at the scene. Armed with a rifle and handguns, the man surrendered after killing several people and firing at police.

The shooter, reportedly identified as 46-year-old Robert Bowers, was carrying an AR-15 and a Glock pistol. He was also found with an additional weapon attached to his ankle and a pistol in his waistband, according to police radio chatter.

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Bowers was part of the social network site Gab. "I'm going in," he wrote prior to entering the synagogue, according to a screenshot published by Heavy. In his bio section on Gab, Bowers wrote: "Jews are the children of Satan."

In that same post, he accused the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) of bringing "invaders" into the US that "kill our people."

After unleashing bullets on the congregation, the gunman shot at officers as soon as they arrived at the scene, forcing them to use their vehicles as shields.

The suspect barricaded himself inside while he was shooting, eventually emerging during negotiations with police. Authorities have confirmed that multiple people were shot, but have so far declined to specify numbers.

There were also reports that the suspect brought an explosive device into the synagogue and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit has been dispatched to comb through the building.

The suspect has been taken into custody and is currently in fair condition at a local hospital after being shot multiple times.

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