The anti-Semite who gunned down 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue has been indicted on a fresh set of federal hate-crime murder charges for railing on social media that “Jews are the children of Satan,” authorities announced Tuesday.
Robert Bowers is now charged in a 66-count superseding indictment for the massacre inside the Tree of Life synagogue on Oct. 27.
The new counts relate to obstructing free exercise of religious beliefs that led to death and injury, committing hate crimes that also resulted in death and discharging a firearm.
Bowers railed against Jewish people on a social media site called Gab.com — including that “jews are the children of satan,” according to the indictment.
He also criticized the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society, writing that “HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in.”
“The Superseding Indictment specifically alleges that Bowers willfully caused bodily injury to 11 deceased and two surviving victims because of their actual and perceived religion,” the Department of Justice said in a press release.
Twenty-two of the counts are punishable by death — and prosecutors have said they will pursue the death penalty. Bowers also faces a life sentence without parole, followed by a consecutive sentence of 250 years in prison.
Bowers was armed with three Glock .357 handguns and a Colt AR-15 rifle when he stormed the house of worship, killing 11 congregants and injuring two others. Five police officers were also injured as they raced to rescue the worshippers.
He allegedly shouted about his desire to “kill Jews” before squeezing off the deadly shots.
With Post wires
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