two people killed by shooter in Austin, FBI calls “act of terrorism”

At least two people were killed and 14 injured by a gunman during an attack on the night of Saturday February 28 to Sunday 1^is March at a bar in Austin, Texas. The suspect, whose identity was not specified, was shot and killed on the spot by police, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said.

The FBI, for its part, mentions a “act of terrorism”. “It is still far too early in the investigation to determine a precise motivation, but there was evidence on the suspect and in his vehicle that indicates a potential link to terrorism”said Alex Doran, an official at the FBI office in San Antonio, at a press conference, who did not give details on the nature of these elements.

Asked whether it was an act of domestic or international terrorism, the day after the Israeli-American strikes on Iran, which responded, the FBI agent refused to answer. The suspect had expressed “pro-Iranian regime opinions”reported Sunday SITE Intelligence Group, an organization monitoring jihadist groups.

Occurring on the night of Saturday to Sunday near a bar in a busy area of ​​downtown Austin, the capital of Texas, the attack left at least two dead and 14 injured. The injured were taken to hospital. Three of them were still in critical condition as of Sunday morning, authorities said.

State of maximum alert after the offensive in Iran

Austin police received a call reporting shots fired around Buford’s, a bar on a busy thoroughfare in the city, Lisa Davis said. Quickly on site, the police “were confronted by the armed individual and three of our officers returned fire, killing the suspect”she said. She added that the assailant, who was traveling in an SUV, first opened fire against customers of the establishment through the window of his vehicle.

He then stopped, got out, and began shooting at passers-by in the street before being shot dead by the police. “There is no doubt in my mind that the rapid response of police officers and our emergency medical personnel (…) made a difference and saved lives”greeted Austin Mayor Kirk Watson during the press conference.

After the Israeli-American strikes against Iran, the head of the FBI, Kash Patel, announced on “asked our counter-terrorism and intelligence teams to be on high alert and to mobilize all necessary security resources”.