Featured Image Credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Topics: Texas, Iran, Terrorism, US News, World News
Ellie Kemp
Topics: Texas, Iran, Terrorism, US News, World News
The FBI has launched an investigation after two people were killed and 14 were injured in a shooting in Austin, Texas.
Officers were called to reports of an active shooter at 2 am on Sunday (March 1) at Buford's bar in the city's capital.
The gunman, identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, was shot and killed by police at the scene, bringing the total death toll to three, as CBS News reports.
Sources told the publication that the suspect was seen driving an SUV around the block before opening fire from the vehicle’s window at people sitting at an outdoor bar. He then got out of the SUV and continued shooting as he walked down the street.
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Diagne, a naturalized US citizen from Senegal, was reportedly wearing a hoodie that read 'propety of Allah' over a shirt with the Iranian flag on it, as the Washington Post reports.
A Quran was also found in his SUV.
Alex Doran, acting head of the FBI’s San Antonio field office, told reporters on Sunday: "Obviously, it’s still way too early in the process to determine the exact motivation.
"But there were indicators on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate a potential nexus to terrorism.”
Authorities do not believe Diagne was working with any groups connected to the Iranian regime, the Washington Post adds.
Officers added that the probe remains in an early stage and information could change.
It comes as Iran’s ambassador delivered a stark message to the US during a heated UN meeting in New York, after American forces bombed multiple cities across Iran.
The US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on February 28, with Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly killed in the bombardment.
In response, Iran has carried out missile and drone attacks targeting several Middle Eastern countries and has attempted to strike US military bases in the region.
Khamenei had ruled Iran since 1989, taking power after the death of Ruhollah Khomeini, who led the Shia Islamist movement to victory following the 1979 uprising.
Now, the Islamic Republic has been thrown into crisis following the death of its long-serving leader, while political opponents of Donald Trump in the US have criticised the decision to carry out the strikes.
During an emergency session of the United Nations, Iran’s representative aimed sharp remarks at his American counterpart.
Iranian ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told the chamber: “I have one word only. I advise the representative of the United States to be polite.”
He added, “It will be better for yourself and the country you represent. Thank you.”
US ambassador Mike Walz responded: “Frankly, I’m not going to dignify this with another response.
“Especially as this representative sits here, in this body, representing a regime that has killed tens of thousands of its own people and imprisoned many more simply for wanting freedom from your tyranny.”
Iravani condemned the US and Israeli strikes, stating: “This morning, the United States regime - jointly and in coordination with the Israeli regime - initiated an unprovoked and premeditated aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran for the second time in recent months.
“This is not only an act of aggression; it is a war crime and a crime against humanity.
“The invocation of a ‘preemptive attack’, claims of imminent threat, or other unsubstantiated political claims are unfounded legally, morally and politically.”
The attacks came after talks between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear programme ended without agreement.
Trump had previously warned of military action if a deal could not be reached, and has since threatened further strikes should Iran escalate its response.