The FBI has opened an investigation into possible terrorism links after a gunman killed at least three people and wounded 14 others at an Austin, Texas, bar on Sunday, with officials noting the suspect wore clothing displaying Iranian symbols.
Police officers shot and killed the gunman during a shootout at the scene. Three victims remain in critical condition.
Officials said the suspect struggled with mental health issues, according to an internal National Counterterrorism Centre update that reporters reviewed.
The shooter wore a shirt displaying an Iranian flag with “IRAN” spelt across the front in green, white and red, a law enforcement official told reporters. He also wore a sweatshirt reading “Property of Allah.”
investigators are examining whether the recent joint US-Israeli strike on Iran motivated the attack.
Authorities identified the shooter as Ndiaga Diagne, a naturalised US citizen originally from Senegal, the Counterterrorism Centre’s update stated.
Alex Doran, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio field office, told reporters Sunday that investigators found concerning indicators.
“There were indicators on the subject, and in his vehicle, that indicate a potential nexus to terrorism,” Doran said.
FEDERAL TASK FORCE TAKES LEAD ON INVESTIGATION
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has joined forces with the Austin Police Department to investigate the shooting. The federal agency deployed evidence response teams and digital forensic specialists to the scene, Doran said.
Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on social media Sunday that President Donald Trump received a briefing on the shooting.
The shooting occurred outside Buford’s, a popular bar on West 6th Street, an area Austin residents know as the centre of the city’s music scene and nightlife.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis told reporters the gunman circled the block multiple times in an SUV before the attack.
He activated his hazard lights, lowered his window and fired a pistol at customers on Buford’s patio and those standing near the entrance, Davis explained.
He then drove west, abandoned the vehicle and opened fire on pedestrians.
Officers shot the gunman dead at a nearby intersection, Davis said.
Emergency responders and police were already stationed in the area, responding to typical weekend crowds. This quick response prevented additional deaths, Davis emphasised.
This incident also marked the 56th US mass shooting this year and the one with the most victims so far, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as an incident in which at least four people, not including the shooter, are injured or killed by gunfire.
