US President Barack Obama says America is heart-broken by the killing of Sikhs in a Gurdwara there and asked his countrymen to do some soul-searching and examine ways to reduce violence.

A former US Army veteran believing in the white supremacist movement had opened fire on worshippers at a Gurdwarda in Oak Creek in Wisconsin on Sunday morning, killing six people before he was shot dead.

Obama said if it turned out, as some early reports indicate, that it might have been motivated in some way by the ethnicity of the worshippers, the American people immediately recoil against that kind of attitude.

President Obama said it would be very important for the Americans to reaffirm that regardless of looks, origin and beliefs, they were all one people and look after one another and respect one another.

The US has witnessed a number of such shooting incidents and the latest carnage came even as the nation was still reeling from a mass shooting two weeks ago in which a gunman killed 12 people in a theatre in Colorado.

Meanwhile, a candle light vigil marked the closure of the funeral ceremony. US officials including James Santelle, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, joined the funeral.

Earlier, India sought assurance from the US over the safety of the Indian community living in that country. External Affairs Minister SM Krishna spoke to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding the shooting incident at a Wisconsin Gurdwara that left seven people dead.

Talking to reporters in New Delhi today, Krishna said he had requested strengthening of security at places of worship during a telephonic conversation with Clinton, who is currently in South Africa. He said an assurance to the Indian community had to come out from the Obama administration that their interests were going to be safe. Krishna said on both accounts, he found Secretary Clinton more than willing to do it.

Krishna said the FBI had already swung into action and Clinton was waiting for the preliminary report. He said the Government would be given the report as soon as she get it.

The Minister said India’s Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao was also in touch with the White House and the State Department

A former US Army man has been identified a suspect of shooting 7 people at a Gurudwara at Wisconsin in the US.