Fourteen injured people have been transported to the hospital, and three of them are in critical condition, according to authorities.
At least two people were killed and 14 injured by a shooter during an attack in a bar in Austin, Texas from Saturday night to Sunday. The presumed shooter, who was shot on site by police, had expressed “pro-Iranian regime opinions,” as reported by the SITE Intelligence Group, an organization monitoring jihadist groups. According to this source, the shooter was identified as Ndiaga Diagne, an American citizen of Senegalese origin.
Shortly after the attack, the FBI stated it could be an “act of terrorism.” “It is still too early in the investigation to determine a precise motive, but there were elements on the suspect and in his vehicle that indicate a potential link to terrorism,” said Alex Doran, an FBI official from the San Antonio office, who did not provide details on these elements.
The suspect was shot on site by police, explained Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis. When asked whether it was a domestic or international act of terrorism, following the Israeli-American strikes on Iran, the FBI agent declined to answer.
The injured were transported to the hospital. Three of them were still in critical condition Sunday morning, authorities stated.
“Maximum Alert”
The Austin police received a call reporting shots at Buford’s, a bar located on a very busy street in the city, Lisa Davis recounted. Quickly on the scene, the police “confronted the armed individual and three of our officers responded, killing the suspect,” she declared. She indicated that the assailant, driving an SUV, first fired at customers of the establishment through the window of his vehicle. He then got out, started shooting on the street at passersby before being shot by police.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the quick response of the police and our emergency medical personnel (…) made a difference and saved lives,” praised Austin Mayor Kirk Watson during the press conference. Referring to an “event that caused significant trauma to (his) city,” the mayor extended his “thoughts” to the victims and their families.
After the Israeli-American strikes on Iran, FBI Director Kash Patel announced on X that he had “directed our counterterrorism and intelligence teams to be on maximum alert and to mobilize all necessary security resources.” Texas military authorities also announced deploying personnel to “protect citizens and critical infrastructure against any potential threat of retaliation.”
