US Muslims raise tens of thousands of dollars in aid campaign for Pittsburgh synagogue victims
Samina Mohamedali (L) and her husband Kutub Ganiwalla, members of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community, prepare to place flowers on a memorial in front of the Tree of Life Congregation, Oct. 28, 2018. (Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP)


Muslims in the U.S. launched an aid campaign for the families of those killed or wounded in Saturday's synagogue attack and have so far raised $111,000.

The campaign was launched on Muslim crowdfunding site Launchgood.com with the title of "Muslims Unite for Pittsburgh Synagogue."

"We wish to respond to evil with good, as our faith instructs us, and send a powerful message of compassion through action," the campaign website said.

In a memorial service held in Pittsburgh on Sunday, Wasi Mohamed, head of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, announced that Muslims had already raised more than $70,000 to help their Jewish neighbors, news greeted by a spontaneous standing ovation.

"We just want to know what you need. If it's more money, let us know. If it's people outside your next service protecting you, let us know we'll be there," he said.

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), one of the leading Muslim associations in the U.S., has also released a statement condemning the synagogue attack.

"We condemn this heinous and cowardly attack on a house of worship, offer heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of all those who were killed or injured and express our solidarity with the Jewish community during this time of shock and grief," CAIR-Pittsburgh Program Director Zohra Lasania said in the statement.

CAIR-Pittsburgh President Safdar Khwaja also said: "This barbaric attack on our neighbors, with whom we share our city and have visited and dialogued multiple times, is deeply disturbing and horrifying. Such an act of terror affects all of us."

On Saturday, at least 11 people were killed after a gunman opened fire during a ceremony at a synagogue in the state of Pennsylvania on Saturday.

The fatal incident occurred at the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in Pittsburgh at around 10 a.m. local time (1400GMT).

Police have taken the assailant, 46-year-old U.S. citizen Robert Bowers, into custody.