Members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, in the United States, yesterday worshipped there for the first time since a gunman opened fire at a Bible study meeting last Wednesday, killing nine people.
Police officers stood among the congregation as the service started with a message of love, recovery and healing.
Sunday morning marked the first service at the church since Dylann Roof (21) sat among a Bible study group and opened fire after saying that he targeted them because they were black.
Among the nine killed was the church pastor, the Reverend Clementa Pinckney, who was also a state senator.
South Carolina governor Nikki Haley and Charleston mayor Joseph Riley attended the service. Events to show solidarity took place throughout the city and beyond.
The welcoming spirit Roof exploited before the shooting is still alive, members said.
Heightened emotions
“I think just because of what people have gone through emotions are definitely heightened, not just in Charleston but with anyone going to church because it is such a sacred place, it is such a safe place,” said Shae Erdos.
“To have something like that completely shattered by such evil – I think it will be in the back of everyone’s heads, really,” Mr Erdos said.
Roof had been photographed with the Confederate flag several times before the shooting. On Saturday an online manifesto, on a website created in February by a registrant listed as Dylann Roof and which contained photographs of Roof posing with a gun and Confederate flags, was being investigated by the FBI and Charleston police.