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Police officers on duty in Laguna Woods (May 15)
Photo: RINGO CHIU / AFP
According to investigators, the firearm attack on a church frequented by Taiwanese in the US state of California has a political background.
The attacker was a Chinese immigrant who was "upset by the political tensions between China and Taiwan," Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes told reporters Monday.
"It was a politically motivated hate incident."
The 68-year-old attacker opened fire on Sunday in a church in the town of Laguna Woods, about 70 kilometers southeast of Los Angeles, where a Taiwanese congregation was meeting.
He killed one person and injured five others before he could be overpowered and handcuffed by churchgoers.
The man, who lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, bordering California, is charged with murder and five counts of attempted murder.
According to preliminary investigation results, he acted alone.
According to Sheriff Barnes, the man has lived in the United States "for many years" and has US citizenship.
Democratic Congresswoman Katie Porter, who represents Orange County in the House of Representatives in Washington, spoke of "shattering and disturbing news".
She added, "This shouldn't be our new normal."
Tensions between China and Taiwan have escalated in recent months.
The government in Beijing regards Taiwan as a breakaway province that should be reunited with the mainland - if necessary with military force.
Buffalo refurbishment underway
The Laguna Woods gun attack came a day after a racially motivated attack in upstate New York left 10 dead.
On Saturday, an 18-year-old man opened fire with an assault rifle in front of and inside a supermarket in the city of Buffalo.
He killed ten people and injured three others.
The white attacker was arrested by the police.
He had previously been targeted by the authorities for "general threats."
The 18-year-old is said to be the author of a racist "manifesto" published on the Internet.
US President Joe Biden will travel to Buffalo on Tuesday.
jok/AFP
