pittsburgh synagogue shooting

What is Gab? The social network used by Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect Robert Bowers

Monday, October 29, 2018
Investigators are looking into statements made on the social media platform Gab that appear to be associated with the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect.
PITTSBURGH -- The man arrested in the mass shooting Saturday at a Pennsylvania synagogue appears to have made virulently anti-Semitic posts on a social media platform popular with far-right figures who feel their views aren't welcome on other social media services.

Police have identified the suspect as Robert Bowers, 46, of Pittsburgh. A deactivated account on the website Gab appears to have been associated with Bowers. It included postings that are anti-Semitic and anti-refugee in nature and that are also critical of President Trump.
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Much like Twitter, Facebook and other social media networks, Gab allows users to share short multimedia messages known as "gabs."

Gab, though, has become an alternative to Twitter for users whose racist and harassing online behavior got them banned from the mainstream platform, according to the Associated Press. The company said it disavows acts of terrorism and violence but sees its mission as defending "free expression and individual liberty online for all people."

SEE ALSO: How to help Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims

In a September profile, Breitbart characterized Gab as "an infrastructure for tech developers that wish to grow their own platforms and products without being forced to go through leftist companies based in Silicon Valley."



CEO Andrew Torba told Breitbart that the website was popular with users in Brazil, Sweden and India "after a recent wave of censorship aimed at major influencers on the right."

In a statement, Gab.com said it suspended the account apparently associated with Bowers Saturday morning shortly after his name was mentioned on police radio chatter. The company said it backed up the content of the account and has been in contact with the FBI about the contents of the account.

A person pauses in front of Stars of David with the names of those killed in a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue, in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018.AP
Muslims from Hydrabad seen placing a temporary grave for Irving Younger at the makeshift memorial after the tragic shooting in Pittsburgh at the Tree of Life.AP
A Pittsburgh Police officer walks past the Tree of Life Synagogue and a memorial of flowers and stars in Pittsburgh on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018.AP
A Pittsburgh Steelers fan holds a sign honoring the victims of a deadly shooting spree at a synagogue on Saturday during the second half of an NFL football game.AP
A person stands in front of Stars of David that are displayed in front of the Tree of Life Synagogue with the names of those killed in Saturday's deadly shooting.AP
People arrive to pay their respects in front of a memorial on October 28, 2018, outside of the Tree of Life synagogue after a shooting there left 11 people dead.AP
Gideon Murphy places a flower at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018.AP
People stand in front of a memorial on October 28, 2018, outside of the Tree of Life Synagogue after a shooting there left 11 people dead in Pittsburgh on October 27, 2018.AP
People wait their turn to place flowers at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018.AP
Two people support each other in front of flowers at a makeshift memorial at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018.AP
Pittsburgh Steelers fans sit behind a banner with a Star of David beside their Steelers blanket as they watch the teams warm up.AP
Flowers sit at a makeshift memorial at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018.AP
People hold candles as they gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue.AP
People hold candles as they gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh.AP
People hold candles as they gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh.AP
A woman holds a candle during a vigil in Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania on October 27, 2018, to remember those that died in the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting earlier in the day.AP
People hold candles as they gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh.AP
People hold candles as they gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh.AP
People gather for a vigil in Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania on October 27, 2018, to remember those that died in the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting earlier in the day.AP
Braddock, Pa., Mayor John Fetterman hugs a person as they gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation.AP
People gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.AP
Police stand guard outside the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh where a shooter opened fire Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.AP
Deb Polk holds a sign as she gathers with others for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.AP
Police speak with members of the community after a shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue at Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania on October 27, 2018.Creative Content
Flowers are left on a sidewalk after a shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue at Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania on October 27, 2018.Creative Content
Media tents and vehicles line an intersection near the Tree of Life Synagogue, upper left, where a shooter opened fire Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.AP
Rapid reaction SWAT members leave the scene of a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood on October 27, 2018, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.AP
Bishop David Zubick of the Diocese of Pittsburgh addresses members of the media near the Tree of Life Synagogue, the scene of a mass shooting earlier in the morning, in Pittsburgh.Creative Content
Denise Fulton cries as she speaks with Bishop David Zubick after she came to show support for members of the community near the Tree of Life Synagogue.Creative Content
A SWAT team truck turns on a street near the Tree of Life Synagogue, after a gunman opened fire inside at Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania, on October 27, 2018.Creative Content
People comfort each other at the site of a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood on October 27, 2018, in Pittsburgh.Creative Content
Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich describes the gravity of a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.Creative Content
Tammy Hepps, Kate Rothstein and her daughter, Simone Rothstein, 16, pray from a prayerbook a block away from the site of a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue.Creative Content
Rapid reaction SWAT members leave the scene of a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood on October 27, 2018, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Creative Content
Tammy Hepps, Kate Rothstein and her daughter, Simone Rothstein, 16, pray from a prayerbook a block away from the site of a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue.Creative Content
Police rapid response team members respond to the site of a shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Creative Content
Police rapid response team members respond to the site of a shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Creative Content
Residents talk to the media near the site of a shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood on October 27, 2018, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Creative Content
Police rapid response team members respond to the site of a shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Creative Content
Police rapid response team members respond to the site of a shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Creative Content
People gather on a corner near the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa., where a shooter opened fire Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, injuring multiple people.AP
A SWAT team arrives at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa. where a shooter opened fire injuring multiple people, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.AP
Neighbors around the corner from the site of a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue embrace one another in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood.Creative Content
First responders surround the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa., where a shooter opened fire Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.AP
First responders arrive at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa.m, where a shooter opened fire Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.AP
First responders surround the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa., where a shooter opened fire Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.Creative Content
First responders surround the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa., where a shooter opened fire Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.Creative Content


Law enforcement officials confirmed to ABC News that they are looking into statements apparently made to and by Bowers on Gab and other social networks.

Amid increased scrutiny after the shooting, Gab said on Twitter Sunday it had been dropped by its web hosting company, Paypal, and Stripe, a company that furnishes financial and payment services, for violations to those companies' terms of service.
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The site was down completely by Monday afternoon, and Torba said in a statement posted to the site's homepage that Gab will be inaccessible "as we transition to a new hosting provider." Torba claimed Gab was the "most censored, smeared, and no-platformed startup in history."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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