Steelers hold moment of silence for shooting victims

The Pittsburgh Steelers held a moment of silence on Sunday prior to their game against the Cleveland Browns as their city mourns the victims of a shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue a day earlier.

The two teams and fans at Heinz Field paused before the 1 p.m. kickoff to honor the victims of the shooting. The team shared the hashtag “#StrongerThanHate” with some of its social media posts in the aftermath of the incident. 

Pittsburgh is #StrongerThanHate. pic.twitter.com/MlujkJRKFt

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 28, 2018

Prior to kickoff at @heinzfield, we observe a moment of silence for the victims and their families following the tragedy at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill yesterday.

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 28, 2018

Steelers fans observe a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill before the team takes on the Browns Sunday at Heinz Field. pic.twitter.com/E6OkytUW5P

— Matt Freed (@mattfreedpghpg) October 28, 2018

{mosads}”Our hearts are heavy, but we must stand against anti-Semitism and hate crimes of any nature and come together to preserve our values and our community,” team President Art Rooney Jr. said in a statement prior to the game.

Eleven people were killed and six others were wounded on Saturday when a gunman opened fire at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood during morning services.

The victims ranged in age from 54 to 97, and included two brothers and a married couple, authorities said earlier Sunday.

The suspect, Robert Bowers, carried a rifle and three handguns and shouted anti-Semitic slurs as he entered the house of worship, police said.

It is believed to be the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in American history, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

Bowers, 46, was charged with 11 counts of criminal homicide, six counts of aggravated assault and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation. Authorities said he told police as he was being treated for injuries upon his arrest that he wanted all Jews to die.

President Trump condemned the attack as “an assault on humanity.”