Gab.com is taken down after Pittsburgh synagogue shooting
PITTSBURGH -- A social media site popular with far-right extremists and where the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect had a profile has been taken down. In a tweet early Monday morning, Gab.com claimed it willfully took the site down, saying it was a preemptive move to thwart the media.
We took the site down early on purpose last night because we knew the media would take the bait and have stories on it for this morning.
— Gab.com🍂 (@getongab) October 29, 2018
They aren’t very bright people, so it is very easy to predict their actions. Working on transferring to our new host today/tomorrow.
In an audio statement on Twitter, co-founder and CEO Andrew Torba called Saturday's shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue that killed 11 an "act of terrorism." Torba said the site has a zero-tolerance policy for terrorism and violence.
https://t.co/J3Rfto6fi3 Statement On The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting https://t.co/C9zaNTuw8u
— Gab.com🍂 (@getongab) October 29, 2018
Gab.com says it suspended the account of suspect Robert Gregory Bowers and contacted law enforcement immediately, turning over his account. The site says Bowers had accounts on other social media platforms.
Bowers is due in court on Monday. U.S. Attorney Scott Brady says federal prosecutors are seeking approval to pursue the death penalty against Bowers.