Updated | Hate crime charges filed in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that left 11 dead

United States federal prosecutors have filed hate crime charges against a Pennsylvania man who authorities say stormed a Pittsburgh synagogue and opened fire, killing 11 people.

Robert Bowers, 46, of suburban Baldwin, surrendered to authorities after Saturday morning's shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue. It's believed he made anti-Semitic statements during the shooting and targeted Jews in posts on social media that are a focus of the investigation, according to a federal law enforcement official.

Bowers faces 29 charges in all in a rampage that left the historic Jewish neighborhood of Squirrel Hill, and the rest of the nation stunned. The attack was believed to be the deadliest on the Jewish community in US history, the Anti-Defamation League said in a statement.

"These incidents usually occur in other cities," Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich told reporters Saturday afternoon. "Today, the nightmare has hit home in the city of Pittsburgh."

Bowers is charged with 11 counts of using a firearm to commit murder and multiple counts of two hate crimes: obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death and obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer, authorities said, citing a criminal complaint, which is sealed.

"The crimes of violence are based upon the federal civil rights laws prohibiting hate crimes," US Attorney Scott W. Brady and Bob Jones, FBI special agent in charge of Pittsburgh office, said in a statement.

Bowers could face the death penalty if he is convicted of a hate crime.

Six people were injured as a result of the shooting, said Hissrich, four of whom were police officers who responded to the scene. No children were killed, he said.

"The actions of Robert Bowers represent the worst of humanity," Brady said.

Saturday morning's violence rocked the city and the historic Jewish neighborhood surrounding the synagogue, which one congregant described as "close-knit."

Jim Waite, who lives across the street, said he walked outside after hearing a commotion. He assumed it was a car accident. A police car flew past him; another officer yelled to get inside. Waite said he heard more than five -- possibly as many as nine -- shots from inside his home.

He said he could hear screams from inside the synagogue.

The Allegheny County Emergency Operations center received calls of an active shooter at 9:54 a.m. ET, Hissrich told reporters. Officers were dispatched a minute later.

According to the FBI's Jones, the suspect was in the process of leaving when he encountered a Pittsburgh police officer who "engaged him." The officer was subsequently injured, and the suspect went back into the synagogue, where he hid from SWAT officers who arrived on the scene.

In all, two police officers and two SWAT officers were wounded in the confrontation, Hissrich said. Three of them were shot, according to the city's public safety department.

The suspect suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was in fair condition at a hospital.

Malta condemns attack

Speaking during a political activity in Gzira on Sunday, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat expressed his solidarity with the US people, adding that there was no place for anti-Semitism in the world.

In a statement, the Foreign Affairs ministry said it was deeply shocked by the news of the attack.

“Malta conveys its deepest condolences and sympathies to the American Government, the American people, and bereaved family members,” the ministry said.

“The Maltese people firmly stand by the Government of America and the American people at this hour of grief. Consistent to its principled position, Malta condemns in all its forms and manifestations.”