Was Austin Terrorized by an Islamic Radical?

Over the weekend, the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes against Iran. During his announcement of Operation Epic Fury, President Donald Trump stated, “[T]he United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests.” (RELATED: Iran’s Fatal Miscalculation)

The White House said the operation aims to “eliminate the imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime, destroy its ballistic missile arsenal, degrade its proxy terror networks, and cripple its naval forces.” However, Washington’s decision to escalate U.S. military involvement abroad raises concerns about potential retaliatory violence within the American homeland. (RELATED: Americans Are Skeptical of the Iran Strikes. That’s a Good Thing.)

On Sunday, a gunman with apparent support for Iran opened fire in a bar in downtown Austin, killing three people and wounding many others. 

Texas authorities identified 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne as the suspect in the shooting outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden in Austin, Texas. Images of the shooter depict him wearing a sweatshirt bearing the phrase “Property of Allah” in addition to an undershirt displaying the Iranian flag. Upon inspecting Diagne’s apartment, authorities also found photos of Iranian regime leaders and an Iranian flag. 

Alex Doran, an FBI San Antonio special agent, told reporters, “There were indicators that on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate potential nexus to terrorism.” The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is now involved in investigating the shooting, but Doran insisted “[I]t’s still too early to make a determination” on whether this was a terrorist attack. 

According to Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, the gunman began the attack when he “put his flashers on, rolled down his window and began using a pistol, shooting out of his car windows, striking patrons of the bar that were on the patio and that were in front of the bar.” After he drove westbound on 6th St., he parked his car and exited the vehicle to open fire on pedestrians walking the streets. Chief Davis explained that East 6th St. is very popular due to its weekend entertainment, so the Austin Police Department already had a heavy presence there. She said, “[W]e were about 55, 56 seconds away, coming from East to West Austin, and that saved multiple lives.” As officers met Diagne at a street intersection, the chief continued, “[H]e was shot, and he was killed.”

Diagne was a Senegalese national who immigrated to the U.S. on a B-2 tourist visa in 2000. He became a lawful resident of the U.S. when he got married in 2006, before he became a naturalized citizen in 2013. Diagne was arrested in Texas for a collision with vehicle damage in 2022.  

This attack comes one week after the Senate was unsuccessful in passing the bill to fund DHS, resulting in a DHS shutdown. After the White House proposed a measure to end this shutdown, spokespeople for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries responded, “Democrats remain committed to keep fighting for real reforms to rein in ICE and stop the violence.”      

Kevin McCarthy, former House Speaker, emphasized that blocking DHS funding could result in national security problems. “If there is some type of attack within America, it is going to be on the Democrats who faulted by not funding DHS during this critical time and allowing the border to be open during [the Biden administration],” he said on Fox News’ The Sunday Briefing.

Because of the harsh scrutiny ICE faced after Alex Pretti and Renée Good were shot and killed by officers in Minneapolis, Democrats are demanding an extensive list of ICE reforms to be included in the DHS bill. These demands include a ban on face coverings for federal agents, an ID requirement, a ban on “racial profiling,” and mandatory body-worn cameras. “The public overwhelmingly supports these reforms,” Rep. Johnny Olszewski said on CNN. 

“Democrats need to make a move to end the shutdown before more Americans are harmed by a lack of funding for critical services like disaster relief,” a White House official told Fox News, referring to the FEMA, TSA, and Coast Guard workers who currently receive no pay due to the Democrats’ DHS funding block.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took to X on Sunday to honor the 23rd anniversary of DHS. She wrote, “Less than two years after the devastating attacks of September 11, 2001, DHS was established. Since then, DHS has stood at the helm of our country’s national security, protecting the American people and our homeland.” She also thanked employees who continue to work without pay. 

Noem is testifying on Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where she will be questioned about her response to ICE operations and the two fatal shootings in Minneapolis.

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