A UNITED STATES army veteran with links to the far Right has been named as the suspect in the shooting at a Sikh temple in the US last Sunday. Six people were killed, and many others were injured.

The suspect is Michael Wade, who was shot dead by police at the Sikh temple, in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. This shooting came 16 days after 12 people were killed and 58 were wounded by a gunman at a film première in Colorado (News, 27 July).

Church leaders in the US have vowed to "stand in solidarity" with Sikhs against violence. The President of the National Council of Churches, Kathryn Lohre, said: "We mourn the tragedy of violence wherever it occurs. . . We pray for healing and wholeness for all affected by today's events."

One of the temple's committee members, Ven Boba Ri, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Sikhism is such a peaceful religion. We have suffered for generations, in India, and even here."

The interim Dean of Washington National Cathedral, the Revd Frank Wade, said: "We pledge our support for the peaceful Sikh community, part of this nation's religious heritage for 100 years."

"These kinds of terrible, tragic events", President Obama said, "are happening with too much regularity for us not to do some soul-searching to examine additional ways that we can reduce violence."

The Diocese of Milwaukee is encouraging Episcopalians to participate in a Day of Prayer for the Sikh Community, on Sunday. The Bishop of Milwaukee, the Rt Revd Steven Miller, also noted additional prayer vigils planned in both near-by Milwaukee and 80 miles to the east in Madison.