A mass shooting in Austin, Texas, that left three people dead, including the suspected gunman, and wounded 14 others is being investigated by federal authorities as a potential act of terrorism after investigators said they recovered materials pointing to a possible extremist motive, including clothing and items linked to Iran.
The gunfire erupted shortly before 2 a.m. on Sunday outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden, a venue in the city’s West Sixth Street nightlife area. Austin police said the attacker drove an SUV around the block several times before stopping, turning on the vehicle’s hazard lights and opening fire from the window with a pistol at patrons on the bar’s patio and in front of the venue. The suspect then drove west, parked, got out and began shooting at people walking along the street with a rifle, police said. Officers already in the area because of weekend crowds confronted the gunman at a nearby intersection and fatally shot him, according to the police account.
Authorities said 14 people were injured in the attack and that three remained in critical condition as of Sunday. Two other people died at the scene. The suspect was killed during an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement officers, police said.
Federal investigators said they were examining “indicators” found on the suspect and in his vehicle, while cautioning that it was too early to reach a definitive conclusion about motive. Alex Doran, the acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio office, told reporters: “There were indicators on the subject, and in his vehicle, that indicate a potential nexus to terrorism.” Doran also said: “It’s still too early to make a determination on that.” The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force was deployed to support the Austin Police Department, with evidence response and digital forensic teams also involved in the investigation, authorities said.
The case drew immediate national attention because it came a day after a joint U.S. and Israeli strike on Iran, with investigators examining whether the suspect was motivated by developments in the Middle East. A law enforcement official told Reuters that the shooter wore a shirt with an Iranian flag and “IRAN” spelled out in green, white and red across the front, and a sweatshirt bearing the words “Property of Allah.”
Fox News and CBS News reported that authorities also found an Iranian flag and photographs of Iranian regime leaders at the suspect’s home during a search after the attack. CBS News said a photograph obtained by Fox News appeared to show the suspect carrying a long gun while wearing the “Property of Allah” sweatshirt described by sources familiar with the investigation.
The suspect was identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, with U.S. officials describing him as a naturalised American citizen born in Senegal. The Department of Homeland Security said Diagne entered the United States in 2000 on a B-2 tourist visa, became a lawful permanent resident in 2006 after marrying a U.S. citizen, and became a naturalised U.S. citizen in 2013. Multiple officials briefed on the investigation told U.S. media that he lived in the Austin-area suburb of Pflugerville.
A separate internal update from the National Counterterrorism Center reviewed by Reuters said law enforcement officials believed the suspect had a history of mental health issues, while investigators continued to assess what role, if any, that may have played in the events of Sunday morning. Law enforcement agencies have not publicly released additional personal details about the suspect beyond his identity and immigration history, and have not publicly named a specific ideological group or organisation connected to the case.
Witnesses described a crowded scene in the busy entertainment district as the attack unfolded. Nathan Comeaux, a 22-year-old university senior who was at the bar with friends, told the Associated Press that the venue was “full of college students, probably mostly UT kids, shoulder to shoulder, hundreds just enjoying their nights.” Comeaux witnessed and recorded the final moments of the incident, AP reported.
Texas officials and local leaders condemned the shooting and said security measures would be reviewed as investigators worked to determine whether the incident was ideologically motivated, a criminal act driven by personal grievance, or linked to other factors. Texas Governor Greg Abbott warned that the state would respond aggressively to anyone trying to “use the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texas,” according to AP. The University of Texas at Austin’s president, Jim Davis, said on social media that those affected included “members of our Longhorn family,” adding: “Our prayers are with the victims and all those impacted,” AP reported.
The White House said President Donald Trump had been briefed on the shooting, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posting about the briefing on social media, according to Reuters.
The attack unfolded in an area known for music venues, bars and late-night foot traffic, with police noting that officers and emergency services were already nearby because of the size of weekend crowds. Austin’s police chief, Lisa Davis, said the rapid response likely prevented additional casualties. Investigators continued to process the crime scene on Sunday and to collect evidence from the suspect’s vehicle and residence, while the FBI and local authorities asked the public to provide any relevant video or information.
The shooting is among the deadliest incidents of its kind reported in the United States this year. Reuters cited data from the Gun Violence Archive, which tracks mass shootings and defines them as incidents in which at least four people, not including the shooter, are injured or killed by gunfire.
As of Sunday, investigators had not released details about the weapons used beyond saying the suspect fired both a pistol and a rifle, nor had they publicly identified the victims. Authorities said the inquiry would focus on establishing a clear timeline of the suspect’s movements, reconstructing the sequence of gunfire, and examining digital and physical evidence for any statements, communications or affiliations that could clarify motive. The FBI said it was working alongside Austin police and other federal partners as the investigation continued.
