This morning we gather to announce the charges in last Friday's shocking attack on the staff of the Jewish Federation building in downtown Seattle.

On Monday I attended the memorial service for Pamela Waechter who was murdered in the attack. The service was held at her synagogue, the Temple B'nai Torah in Bellevue.

It was a deeply moving service that began with a brief and simple ceremony.

The Ark was opened, and the Torah removed. The Ark stood empty. Rabbi Mirel pointed out that the Ark was now empty, a symbol of emptiness and loneliness for those who came to remember this remarkable woman, Pamela Waechter.

And then those gathered in the Synagogue celebrated her life.

When it was over, we in the Criminal Justice system were left to do our duty.

Yesterday I met with leaders of the Jewish Federation and prominent rabbis in the Jewish community.

The shock, anger and dismay over Friday's attack remains strong.

It is still difficult for people to believe that this senseless and violent act occurred in our city, so far from the violence and tension of the Middle East.

But make no mistake: this was a hate crime. The attack on these women was an attack on the Jewish community, not only in Seattle, but throughout our nation and the world.

The victims were killed and injured, not because of who they were as individuals, but because the defendant wanted to use them as symbols, to strike at members of the Jewish faith everywhere.

The evidence shows, and we allege, that Naveed Haq chose his target, the Jewish Federation and the people inside, because he decided that it would be a convenient local symbol representing the nation of Israel an the Jewish people throughout the world.

We allege that the defendant Haq used two large caliber handguns to confront a 14-year-old girl, who was using the keypaid security system at the Jewish Federation offices, forcing her to let him inside the door.

Haq walked down the hall of the Federation offices, firing .40 and .45 caliber handguns into offices as he walked by.

He shot and killed Pamela Waechter.

He shot and wounded Dayna Klein.

He shot and wounded Carol Goldman.

He shot and wounded Christina Rexroad.

He shot and wounded Layla Bush.

He shot and wounded Cheryl Stumbo.

Within a few moments, one person was dead, five others lay wounded.

Despite being shot in the arm, one of the victims had the presence of mind, in the midst of this horror, to call 9-1-1.

She then handed the phone to the defendant Haq.

The evidence will show that Haq admitted to the victims and the 9-1-1 operator that he was there because he was upset with Israeli foreign policy.

He identified himself as an American Muslim, and made statements, moments after he shot 6 defenseless women, that, "These are Jews and I'm tired of getting pushed around and our people getting pushed around by the situation in the Middle East."

Somehow, miraculously, the telephone call stopped the violence. Within minutes of talking with the 9-1-1 operator, Haq agreed to surrender.

In order to make his political statement, he left a wake of tears, serious wounds, and death.

It is our duty to charge crimes that accurately reflect the seriousness of the act.

This is one of the most serious hate crimes that has ever occurred in our community. We are responding today with the most serious charges under law:

We are charging Naveed Haq with the following crimes:

1. Aggravated murder in the first degree, for the killing of Pamela Waechter. The aggravating factor alleged is that the premeditated murder occurred during the course of a first-degree burglary.

2. Kidnapping in the first degree, for the act of using firearms to force the 14-year-old girl, the niece of a Jewish Federation employee, to let him inside.

3. Five counts of attempted first-degree murder, each with a firearm allegation, for the shooting of the 5 women I just named;

4. Burglary in the first degree, for the armed entry into the locked building;

5. And Malicious Harassment, our state's hate crime statute.

If convicted as charged, the defendant will face either the death penalty or life in prison without possibility of release.

I will make that decision over the next several months. As you know, by statute I have 30 days from arraignment to decide whether a jury should have the death penalty option before them.

One thing is clear: the world has gotten to be a smaller place. We feel, here at home, the tensions of military conflict on the other side of the globe.

We feel, here at home, the fear of terrorism perpetrated in places far away.

And we know that local people can use violence against innocent victims to try and insert themselves into a global conflict.

We will speak clearly on this point: there is no place for hate crimes in our community.

They are intended to cause fear within every member of the targeted group.

Hate crimes tear at the diverse tapestry of our society.

Hate crimes tear at the very fabric of our soul.

They leave us afraid, angry, and in mourning.

And we are left to do our duty.

For more information, also see State v. Haq, News Release from the office of King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng

Dated: August 2, 2006