Temple killer was psychological specialist

6 Aug 2012, 11:40 pm   -   Source: AAP

The man who attacked a Sikh temple in the US was a former soldier, but authorities have not discovered his motive.

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The gunman suspected of killing six people at a Sikh temple in the US was a former US Army "psychological operations specialist", the Pentagon says.

Wade Michael Page, 40, who was shot dead by police during the incident, had served from April 1992 to October 1998, ending his career at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, it was revealed on Monday.

Witnesses said he looked like he had a purpose and knew where he was going during the attack.

Authorities were scrambling to discover his motive. Three people were critically wounded in the attack that police called an act of domestic terrorism.

Terrified congregants ran for cover on Sunday morning when the shooting began at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin. The gunfire finally ended in a shootout between the gunman and police outside.

Satpal Kaleka, wife of the temple's president, Satwant Singh Kaleka, saw the gunman enter, according to Harpreet Singh, their nephew.

"He did not speak, he just began shooting," said Singh, relaying her description.

Worshippers said they had never seen the 1.8m tall bald man at the temple before.

"We never thought this could happen to our community," said Devendar Nagra, 48, whose sister escaped injury by hiding as the gunman fired in the temple's kitchen. "We never did anything wrong to anyone."

Late on Sunday, the investigation appeared to move beyond the temple as police, federal agents and the county sheriff's bomb squad swarmed a nearby neighbourhood, evacuated several homes and searched an apartment.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent Tom Ahern said warrants were being served at the gunman's home. Residents were allowed to return on Monday.

Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards said police expected to release more information on Monday. He said the FBI would lead the investigation because the shootings were being treated as domestic terrorism, or an attack that originated inside the US

"While the FBI is investigating whether this matter might be an act of domestic terrorism, no motive has been determined at this time," Teresa Carlson, Special Agent in Charge with the agency's Milwaukee division, said in a statement on Sunday night.

During a chaotic few hours after the first shots were fired, police in tactical gear and carrying assault rifles surrounded the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin with armoured vehicles and ambulances.

Edwards said the gunman "ambushed" one of the first officers to arrive at the temple as the officer tended to a victim outside. A second officer then exchanged gunfire with the suspect, who was fatally shot. Police had earlier said the officer who was shot killed the suspected shooter.

The wounded officer was in critical condition along with two other victims. Police said the officer was expected to survive.

Tactical units went through the temple and found four people dead inside and two outside, in addition to the shooter.

Jatinder Mangat, 38, another nephew of the temple's president, said his uncle was among those shot, but he didn't know the extent of his injuries. When Mangat later learned people had died, he said "it was like the heart just sat down".

Gurpreet Kaur, 24, said her mother was among a group of about 14 women preparing a meal in the temple kitchen when the gunman entered and started firing. Kaur said her mother felt two bullets fly by her as the group fled to the pantry. Her mother suffered what Kaur thought was shrapnel wound in her foot.

"These are people I've grown up with," she said. "They're like aunts and uncles to me. To see our community to go through something like this is numbing."

Many Sikhs in the US worship on Sundays at a temple, or gurdwara, and a typical service consists of meditation and singing in a prayer room where worshippers remove their shoes and sit on the floor. Worshippers gather afterward for a meal that is open to the entire community.

Sikh rights groups have reported a rise in attacks in the US by people who mistake them for Muslims.

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