Thaindian News

Washington, Aug 6 (IANS) US President Barack Obama has denounced the shooting incident at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin as a “senseless act of violence” and expressed condolences for the victims, Xinhua reported.

At least seven people, including a suspected gunman, were killed in the temple shooting Sunday, local police confirmed.

Four people were found dead inside the temple, and three others outside, including the gunman who was fatally shot by a police officer in the exchange of fire, said the police.

The president called Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi, and trustees of the Sikh temple Sunday afternoon, expressing his condolences for the lives lost and his concern for those who were injured, said a White House statement.

During an earlier briefing with administrative officials, Obama was informed that the situation at the Sikh temple was under control, and that “the lone gunmen was killed by an Oak Creek police officer,” the statement added.

The US president was notified of the Wisconsin shooting early in the afternoon by his Homeland Security Advisor John Brennan, and then he received updates through a phone call with FBI Director Bob Mueller and Chief of Staff Jack Lew.

Earlier, Obama in a statement said that he was deeply saddened by the tragic incident.

“Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who were killed and wounded,” Obama said, adding that his administration would provide whatever support needed to the officials who are responding to the incident and moving forward with an investigation.

Though not much information — including the gunman’s identity and motives or how the shooting actually happened — was immediately available, Wisconsin police have announced that they are treating the shooting as a “domestic terrorist type incident”.

The tragedy came just half a month after a shocking mass shooting at a Colorado movie theatre which claimed 12 lives and wounded nearly 60.

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