Nine killed in U. S church

Nine people have died in a shooting at a historic African -
American church in Charleston in the U.S state of South Carolina.

City police chief , Gregory Mullen, said eight of the victims were
killed inside the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on
Wednesday evening, while another person died shortly
afterwards .

Police are now searching for a white male suspect in his 20s, the
BBC reports .

“I do believe it was a hate crime , ” Mr . Mullen said .
The church’ s pastor , state Senator Clementa Pinckney , was
among those killed , civil rights activist , the Rev . Al Sharpton
tweeted.

A prayer meeting was going on at the time of the shooting at
about 21 :00 local time on Wednesday (01:00 GMT Thursday ) at the
church on Calhoun Street.

In a tweet , Charleston police wrote: “ Suspect in shooting on
Calhoun St is a w/ m approx 21 slender small build wearing a grey
sweat shirt, blue jeans , timberland boots and clean shaven .”

Speaking at a news briefing later, Mr . Mullen said : “ There were
eight deceased individuals inside of the church . Two individuals
were transported to [the hospital ]. One of them has died .

“At this point , we have nine victims in this hideous crime . It is
unfathomable that somebody in today’s society would walk into a
church when people are having a prayer meeting and take their
lives, ” Mr . Mullen said .