Police arrest Sikh temple shooter's ex-girlfriend

Mourners and supporters of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin attend a candle light vigil held at the Oak Creek Community Center on the National Night Out event August, 7, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Photo/AFP

US authorities said Wednesday they have arrested a former girlfriend of a gunman who killed six at a Sikh temple on a weapons charge.

In a brief statement, police in the city of South Milwaukee said Misty Cook was arrested Sunday for the offense of being in possession of a firearm as a felon.

She will be referred to the Milwaukee Country district attorney's office for charges, the police said.

The arrest appeared to have come after Wade Michael Page opened fire on worshippers attending a service in Oak Creek, near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, killing six.

He was shot to death at the scene by police.

The statement did not provide any other details and did not describe Cook as Page's ex-girlfriend. However, various US media outlets have identified her as such.

A racist former soldier with links to white supremacists, Page seems to have drifted from job to job since leaving the army in 1998 and had become a singer in a so-called "white power" band.

The FBI, which did not have an active file on Page before the killings, have said he is the subject of a "domestic terrorism" probe and that his ties to white supremacist groups are being scrutinized.