Austin (USA).- At least
three people died and another
18 were injured in a shooting at a
bar in Austin (Texas) that is being investigated as a possible terrorist act, authorities reported this Sunday.
The incident took place around 02:00 local time (08:00 GMT) in a popular university bar area. The suspect, who was shot dead by the officers who responded to the shooting, had been prowling the bar street before starting to shoot, according to the
Austin Police Chief,
Lisa Davis, at a press conference.
“He turned on the position lights, lowered the window and began shooting from the car with a gun, injuring several people who were in the bar’s courtyard,” she explained. Then, the agent continued, he got out of the vehicle and continued shooting, until he was shot by the agents.
The FBI’s Investigation into the Texas Shooting
At least 18 injured people were taken to local hospitals and three of them are in critical condition, authorities said, who have not yet identified the suspect or the victims.
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The FBI is working with local police on the investigation and found “clues” in the suspect’s car that point to “possible terrorist links,” according to Special Agent Alex Doran at the press conference.
According to sources consulted by the NBC network,
authorities have not yet determined whether it is an individual with mental problems or an act of terrorism.
The suspect, according to the media, is a U.S. citizen of Senegalese origin who has lived in the country for more than 15 years.
“Texas is in mourning”
In a statement, the state’s governor, Republican Greg Abbott, expressed that “Texas is in mourning” and added that his office has been in contact with the Austin mayor’s office and the Department of Public Safety to “ensure that all necessary resources and assistance are deployed.”
“Anyone thinking of taking advantage of the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texas or our critical infrastructure should understand this clearly: Texas will respond with decisive and forceful action to protect our state,” he added.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson acknowledged that the incident represents an “extremely difficult and traumatic moment” for his city and highlighted the work of the local police.
“At 57 seconds after the first emergency calls were made, our Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals were already on the scene attending to people,” he wrote on his X platform account.
