Authorities in Texas are investigating a mass shooting at an Austin bar as a potential act of terrorism, after a gunman opened fire early on Sunday, killing two people and wounding 14 others before being shot dead by police. The suspect, identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, a Senegalese national and naturalised US citizen, was not known to law enforcement prior to the attack, officials said.
The shooting occurred at a downtown bar popular with university students. Police said Diagne was wearing a hoodie with the words “Property of Allah” when he began firing. The FBI’s joint terrorism taskforce is assisting with the investigation, and agents believe Diagne may have acted alone, though they have not ruled out links to organised groups.
The attack came hours after US airstrikes on Iran, ordered by President Donald Trump. Reports from the Site Intelligence Group indicate that Diagne had posted pro-Iranian regime sentiments and criticism of Israeli and American leaders on Facebook as far back as 2017. A photo on his account showed him holding what appears to be an assault rifle.
The victims were named as Ryder Harrington, 19, a student at Texas Tech University, and Savitha Shan, 21, who studied at the University of Texas at Austin. A vigil was held in Austin on Monday night.
In response to the escalating Middle East conflict, federal and local authorities have heightened security measures across the US. The FBI director stated that counterterrorism teams were working “around the clock”, while police in New York, Los Angeles, and other cities have increased patrols at sensitive locations, including religious and cultural sites.
