Ex-US soldier suspect in Sikh temple attack

DHAKA: Wade Michael Page, a former US soldier, has been named as the suspected assailant in shooting in a Sikh temple in the mid-western state of Wisconsin that left six people dead.

Though police officials have not officially released the identity of the 40-year-old assailant, US media outlets and officials speaking on the basis of anonymity, said on Monday that Page had links to racist groups in the US.

Bernard Zapor, special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said the 9mm
handgun used in the attack was purchased legally and had multiple ammunition magazines.

Page was shot dead by police on the scene at Sunday`s attack on worshippers preparing for religious services at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, in the Madison suburb of Oak Creek.

Page`s six-year tenure as a a psychological operations specialist and Hawk Missile System repairman in the US military, came to an end in 1998 for "patterns of misconduct", including being drunk while on duty.

"We can say he was in the military, 1992 to 1998 he had a general discharge and that he was ineligible for re-enlistment", John Edwards, Oak Creek police chief, said.

Source: Aljazeera

BDST: 0510 HRS, AUG 7, 2012
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