Does the government, or the news media, have to pretend that it’s mere speculation that it’s a hate crime? Unless it’s a hoax intended to fool people, or unless the perpetrators had some other motivation but they tried to conceal that by saying the things they did during the attacking, it has got to be a hate crime. Call it for what it certainly looks like, unless and until you see a contrary plausible explanation.

P.S. The same goes for middle eastern guys who die screaming “Akkahu Akbar” while blowing up a crowd of shoppers or concert-goers. We can presume their motivation and take it as a fact unless and until some other theory comes out, well-supported in the evidence.