Thank you, Assistant Attorney General Clarke, and good afternoon, everyone.  

I want to begin by expressing my deepest condolences to the victims, to the families and loved ones, of those murdered and injured in this vicious attack. 

We recognize the enduring threat posed by those who commit hate crimes and acts of violent extremism, and the devastating impact on people and communities.  

Taking action against these threats is our highest priority.  

The full weight and resources of the FBI and the Department of Justice have been brought to bear in this investigation and have involved hundreds of personnel from our Buffalo Field Office and across the country to support the victims and this community and to engage in the relentless pursuit of justice. 

The FBI’s National Evidence Response Team, along with teams from Buffalo and other field offices, deployed specialized technical equipment for the evidence recovery operation that will be crucial to the successful prosecution and the attainment of justice in this case. 

A Community Resource Center was established by FBI victim specialists, in collaboration with our state and local counterparts, to provide essential support and assistance to those impacted by this unimaginable tragedy. 

Strong, well-established relationships with our law enforcement partners have been indispensable to this response and investigation, and we cannot thank our partners enough for their steadfast commitment and unyielding efforts to help others.  

We immediately identified this attack as a hate crime and an act of racially motivated violent extremism directed at the very heart of this community, and we’ve been determined from the beginning to do our part to hold accountable the person who committed this horrific attack and to help this community heal. 

We remain committed in our work to protect life and freedom, to help and support those who have been victimized, and to seek swift and absolute justice against those who commit acts of violence and terror driven by hate. 

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with, always, all who have been so severely impacted by this terrible tragedy. 

Thank you.