The gunman forced his way through the security door Friday afternoon at the Jewish Federation after an employee had punched in her security code, said Marla Meislin-Dietrich, a co-worker who was not at the building at the time.
Amy Wasser-Simpson, vice president for planning and community services at the Jewish Federation told The Seattle Times that a man got through security at the building and told staff members: “I’m Muslim American. I’m angry at Israel,” then began shooting.
Naveed Afzal Haq was taken into police custody late Friday for investigation of homicide and attempted homicide. Laura Laughlin, special agent in charge of the Seattle FBI office, said the suspect is a U.S. citizen who is not from Seattle. Agents were working to contact his relatives, she said.
Police would not confirm the account of what happened. When asked if the suspect was a Muslim, Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske said at a news conference “you could infer that that was his background.” Kerlikowske gave no further details about the man except that he was between 30 and 40.
Police said they had also found a car belonging to the man, who was not immediately identified, and were searching it for explosives and evidence. A handgun had been found at the scene and was taken into evidence.
“We think this is a lone individual acting out with antagonism toward the organization,” said David Gomez, assistant special agent in charge of counterterrorism for the FBI’s office in Seattle.
Police, who first responded to reports of shots fired and a possible hostage situation at the center shortly after 4 P.M., said they were “taking every precaution” in searching for explosives and additional suspects and were monitoring the city’s synagogues and Jewish organizations.
Authorities did not offer a motive for the incident and it was not immediately clear if the shooter was targeting women. Police said there were about 10 people in the federation’s offices at the time of the shooting.
“We have five victims, all female, ranging from their early 20s to 40s, who have been brought to Harbor View [Medical Center],” hospital spokeswoman Pamela Steele said.
“They have sustained wounds to the knee, groin, abdomen and arm. Three of the five have been taken to the operating room,” she said.
The shooting took place at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, which had organized a large rally last weekend to demonstrate support for Israel in its fight against Hezbollah.
The extent of the victims’ injuries was not immediately known. A SWAT team was searching the downtown building Friday for any other possible victims or shooters, police spokesman Rich Pruitt said.
“People got shot, some of our co-workers,” Patti Simon said in a phone interview, her voice shaking. “I just got back from Israel and made it out of there a half hour before the rockets started.”
Simon, who sells advertising for the federation’s newspaper, was working on the first floor when she heard screaming, shots and what sounded like furniture crashing on the floor above.
“We heard this horrible screaming on the floor above us and shots,” the 52-year-old said. “We didn’t know what was happening.”
Simon called up to her co-workers on the second floor, but got no answer, so she called the police and fled the building.
One person shot in the abdomen and another shot in the arm were being taken to Harborview Medical Center, KING-TV reported.
Police blocked off several city blocks to investigate. Simon said the federation building has security.
“Somebody must have lied their way in,” she said.
