3 Killed in Texas Bar Shooting as Authorities Probe Possible Iran Link

Three people were killed and 14 others injured in a mass shooting at a bar in Austin, as investigators work to determine whether the attack was motivated by international tensions involving Iran.

Authorities said it is too early to conclude whether the ongoing conflict involving Iran played a role in the incident.

According to officials, police fatally shot the gunman at the scene. A photo obtained by Reuters showed the suspect wearing a shirt bearing the Iranian flag with the word “Iran” printed in green, white, and red. 

A government official told Reuters that he was also wearing a vest carrying the phrase “The Kingdom belongs to God.”

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis told reporters during a press conference on Monday that determining the motive remains a top priority.

“Our priority is to find answers and understand the motive behind this crime,” Davis said, emphasizing that it is premature to draw conclusions about the suspect’s intentions.

Alex Doran, the acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio office, confirmed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is examining any potential terrorism links.

However, he noted that this is only one of several investigative avenues being explored.

“It is always difficult to determine what is going on in someone’s mind that drives them to commit this kind of violence,” Doran said.

Law enforcement officials stated that the gunman had a documented history of mental health issues, according to an internal update from the National Counterterrorism Center reviewed by Reuters.

The shooter was identified as Ndiaga Diagne, 53, a U.S. citizen of Senegalese origin.

Police said the attacker surveilled the area by circling the neighborhood several times before opening fire from his vehicle at patrons seated on the bar’s patio.

He later exited the car and continued shooting randomly at pedestrians in the street, causing casualties at two nearby locations.

Officers arriving at the scene shot and killed the suspect. The injured victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment, with several reported to be in critical condition.

The shooting comes amid heightened security concerns in the United States as tensions with Iran escalate, raising fears of potential domestic repercussions.

According to archived data, the United States recorded 407 mass shooting incidents last year.