FBI officials have confirmed materials found in connection with the Austin bar shooting indicated a “potential nexus to terrorism,” with the gunman wearing a “Property of Allah” shirt and possibly motivated by US strikes on Iran when he killed two people and wounded 14.
Ndiaga Diagne, 53, a US citizen originally from Senegal, was killed by officers in return fire after opening fire on patrons at Buford’s bar on West Sixth Street in Austin’s Entertainment District just before 2am Sunday. He was found to have a Quran in his car and wore “Islamic” clothing during the attack.
According to Fox News, Diagne was possibly wearing an undershirt or t-shirt that had an Iranian flag or Iranian representations on it beneath his “Property of Allah” shirt. The former New York City resident is believed to have lived in the city from 2000 to 2008 and has a history of arrests in Texas.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis stated the gunman never entered the bar but fired at patrons from the street with a handgun and a rifle. A total of 17 people were shot in the spree, with 14 injured and taken to hospital whilst three were pronounced dead at the scene. Three of those hospitalized remain in critical condition.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Donald Trump has been briefed on the shooting, stating in the same announcement that he has spoken with several Middle Eastern leaders on Sunday. “Today, President Trump has spoken with the leaders of Israel, Bahrain, and the UAE. The President has also been briefed on the shooting in Austin, Texas,” Leavitt wrote on X.
The potential terror link emerged as the shooting occurred just hours after the US led strikes against Iran. Officials had warned the military action heightened the threat that a terror cell could retaliate on American soil.
Leavitt’s statement connected the Austin shooting to broader Middle East tensions, stating: “Following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the strikes on Saturday, Iranian officials vowed to seek revenge against the US.”
Davis described the shooting as a “tragic, tragic incident” and praised the bravery of responding officers who were “faced with an individual with a gun.” The police chief’s commendation highlighted the officers’ quick response in neutralizing the threat through return fire.
The FBI’s terrorism nexus finding will trigger a comprehensive investigation into Diagne’s background, communications and potential connections to terror networks. Whether the suspect acted alone or had coordination with others remains under investigation.
Authorities will examine Diagne’s movements between his 2008 departure from New York City and Sunday’s attack, including his Texas arrest history and any international travel. The presence of Islamic materials and potential Iranian flag clothing suggests ideological motivation linked to Saturday’s US-led strikes.
The three victims in critical condition remain hospitalized as authorities work to establish the full extent of Diagne’s planning and whether additional threats exist.
