US gunman kills one in hate crime shooting spree

AN ARMED man who sprayed a Jewish centre with bullets, killing a woman and injuring at least five others, forced his way past security by holding a gun to a 13-year-old girl’s head, police said yesterday.

The gunman, who employees said claimed to be a Muslim angry at Israel, forced his way through the security door at the Jewish Federation in Seattle.

Naveed Afzal Haq opened fire with two semi-automatic pistols. One woman, Pam Waechter, 58, of Seattle was killed at the scene. Five more women were wounded.