A gunman wearing clothing bearing an Iranian flag and the words 'Property of Allah' killed two people and injured 14 early on Sunday at a Texas bar, law enforcement officials.
The FBI is investigating the shooting, which came a day after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, as a potential act of terrorism.
Police Confront Suspect and Witness Accounts
According to The Associated Press, Police in Austin shot and killed the suspect, who used both a pistol and a rifle during the attack, authorities said. The incident occurred outside Buford's Backyard Beer Garden just before 2:00 a.m. on Sixth Street, a busy nightlife area near the University of Texas at Austin.
Witness Nathan Comeaux, a 22-year-old student, described the bar as crowded with hundreds of college students when the suspect drove past several times before opening fire from his SUV at people on the patio and outside the bar. He then got out with a rifle and began shooting at pedestrians before police confronted and shot him. Three of the injured were in critical condition on Sunday morning.
The suspect has been identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, the Department of Homeland Security said. Comeaux said he had stepped out to a nearby food truck minutes before the shooting and initially thought the gunfire was fireworks or a motorcycle.
'I hid behind a bench and saw officers running toward the scene,' Comeaux said. 'Some of my friends were shot, and many UT students are likely affected. The UT community has been majorly impacted.'
Investigation and Official Responses
Authorities have not confirmed a motive, but said items found in Diagne's vehicle and personal effects prompted an investigation into a possible terrorism link. Alex Doran, acting head of the FBI's San Antonio office, said it was 'too early to make a determination.'
Diagne entered the US in 2000 on a tourist visa, became a lawful permanent resident six years later through marriage to a US citizen, and was naturalised in 2013. He was originally from Senegal.
The White House confirmed that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the shooting, while Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the state would respond forcefully to anyone attempting to exploit Middle East tensions to threaten Texans.
University of Texas President Jim Davis said some victims were members of the campus community and offered prayers for all affected. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson praised the rapid response of police and emergency teams, saying they 'definitely saved lives.'
Context and Public Reaction
Sixth Street has seen other high-profile shootings in recent years, including one in 2021 that left 14 people wounded. While Sunday's attack does not meet the official definition of a mass killing, it adds to a growing number of violent incidents in the city.
Reactions to the Austin shooting on social media were mixed. One user sarcastically credited former President Trump, writing, 'Boy, I sure am glad how safe America is now because of Trump!' Others mentioned Antifa, expressed support for Iran, or criticised US Middle East policy.
Some reflected on past terrorist attacks, noting long-standing resentment linked to US foreign policy. Others joked about video game-style arrow sequences. Authorities cautioned that online reactions do not necessarily indicate the attacker's motives, and investigations—including the possible terrorism link—are ongoing.
