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An apparent hate crime took place in the US, as a suspected white armed man entered into a a historic African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina, and started firing brutally on the people present over there.

At least nine casualties reported in the deadly attack. What has actually taken place is yet to be confirmed by the investigating officers. According to the eyewitnesses, the armed man looks young like a 21-year-old.

Charleston Police Department spokesperson Charles Francis said the shooting occurred at the Emanuel AME Church around 9pm local time (0100 GMT). The police officials also received a bomb threat in the shooting vicinities and asked people to move back to avoid damage.

A group of several men stood in a circle in front of a hotel near the church. "We pray for the families, they've got a long road ahead of them," Reverend James Johnson, a local civil rights activist, said during the impromptu prayer service.

Some media reports, mentioned that the attackers was caught by police, but there is no official word from the concerned department. The church was built in 1891 and predominantly visited by black congregations in the region.

If the attack is proved to be a hate crime, the racism and tolerance question will arise.

-Kannamsai