Dylann Roof has made a dramatic court appearance, with relatives of some of the victims of the Charleston church shooting allowed to address him directly.

Roof appeared via video link, handcuffed and dressed in a jail jumpsuit. He spoke only to answer questions, saying his age and that he was unemployed.

He looked straight ahead and did not appear to react as the relatives made their tearful statements during the 13-minute hearing.

Ethel Lance's daughter sobbed as she said: "I forgive you."

The mother of Tywanza Sanders, Felicia, told Roof that "every fibre in my body hurts, and I'll never be the same".

"Tywanza was my hero," said the woman, who survived the attack by pretending to be dead as she lay on top of her granddaughter to protect her.

"May God have mercy on you."

The sister of the Reverend DePayne Middleton-Doctor, Bethane, said she was "very angry", but that her sibling taught her that "we are the family that love built".

She said her family had "no room for hate". However, she told Roof: "I also thank God I won't be around when your judgement day comes with him."

Another relative said: "Hate won't win."

President Barack Obama said the willingness of relatives to show forgiveness was "an expression of faith that is unimaginable but that reflects the goodness of the American people".

Speaking during a fundraising event in San Francisco on Friday night, Mr Obama added: "It's not enough for us to express sympathy; we have to take action."

The US president said racism remains a "blight" that the US has to "combat together".

Investigation

Roof, a white 21-year-old, is charged with nine counts of murder and possession of a firearm in connection with the shooting spree at the black church in Charleston, where all victims were African-American. He remains in custody.

Authorities, who are already investigating the shooting as a hate crime, said they are now probing it also as a possible "act of domestic terrorism".

South Carolina's governor said Roof should get the capital punishment.

"We will absolutely want him to have the death penalty," Governor Nikki Haley told NBC.

"This is an absolute hate crime. We've been talking with the investigators because we've been going through the interviews, they said they looked pure evil in the eye."

Reports have said Roof has confessed to killing nine members of a Bible study group at the historic Emanuel Africa Methodist Episcopal church in South Carolina and said he intended to trigger a "racial war" as a result.

Charles Francis, a spokesman for Charleston Police, declined to comment on the reports of a confession.

Roof was arrested on Thursday four hours from Charleston in Shelby, North Carolina.

The shooting has also revived a debate about the Confederate flag, symbolising southern states' secession from the US over slavery during the Civil War.

Critics see it as a symbol of white supremacy, but the flag is currently flown on the grounds of the South Carolina state Capitol.

Mr Obama has weighed in, saying he believes the flag belongs in a museum.

Roof is reported to have been in the prayer group meeting for an hour before allegedly opening fire.

A Snapchat shot by Mr Sanders, who at 26 was the youngest victim of the shooting, showed a white male sit among black people at the church before the fatal shootings took place.

A survivor of the attack has said the gunman reloaded five times and when asked to stop shooting, replied: "I have to do it. You rape our women and you are taking over the country. And you have to go."

Newly released police documents say Roof shot all nine victims multiple times, and that he stood over a witness and made a racial remark after the shooting.

The other victims of the attack have been identified as Reverend Clementa Pinckney; Cynthia Hurd, 54; Reverend Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, 45; Myra Thompson, 59; Ms Lance, 70; Susie Jackson, 87; and Reverend Daniel Simmons Sr, 74.

The Justice Department said it would fast-track the sending of $29m to South Carolina to help the families of victims.

The family of suspect Dylann Roof said in a statement they are "devastated and saddened".

"Words cannot express our shock, grief, and disbelief as to what happened that night," the statement said.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed this week. We have all been touched by the moving words from the victims' families offering God's forgiveness and love in the face of such horrible suffering."