Texas: A gunman wearing apparel adorned with the Iranian flag and the phrase “Property of Allah” opened fire at a crowded Austin bar early Sunday, killing two people and wounding 14 others in what federal authorities are investigating as a potential act of terrorism.

The shooting occurred at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden on Sixth Street, a popular nightlife hub near the University of Texas at Austin, just one day after the United States and Israel initiated a massive military offensive against Iran.

The suspect, identified by the Department of Homeland Security as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, was shot and killed by Austin police after a confrontation involving both a handgun and a rifle.

The Attack on Sixth Street

The violence erupted just before 2 a.m. (local time) as the entertainment district was packed with patrons, many of them college students. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis stated that the suspect circled the establishment several times in an SUV before opening fire from his window at people on the patio.

Diagne then parked his vehicle, exited with a rifle, and began shooting at pedestrians. Officers stationed in the high-security district responded within a minute, fatally shooting the gunman at a nearby intersection.

“The suspect drove past the bar several times before stopping and shooting from the window of his SUV at people on a patio and in front of the bar,” Davis said.

Witnesses Describe Chaos

Nathan Comeaux, a 22-year-old UT senior, described the scene as a typical Saturday night turned nightmare. The bar was “full of college students, probably mostly UT kids, shoulder to shoulder, hundreds just enjoying their nights,” he said.

Comeaux, who had stepped away to a food truck minutes before the gunfire began, initially mistook the noise for fireworks. After realising the danger, he took cover behind a bench and witnessed the suspect engage the police.

“The UT community has definitely been majorly affected by this,” Comeaux added, noting that he and many other students knew victims of the attack.

Terrorism Investigation Underway

The FBI's San Antonio office has taken a lead role in the investigation. While a formal motive has not been established, Alex Doran, the acting agent in charge, said authorities found “indicators” on the gunman and in his vehicle that pointed toward a possible link to the ongoing Middle East conflict.

“It’s still too early to make a determination on that,” Doran said Sunday.

According to DHS records, Diagne was a naturalised U.S. citizen originally from Senegal. He first entered the country in 2000 on a tourist visa and obtained permanent residency in 2006 through marriage.

Official Response

White House officials confirmed that President Donald Trump has been briefed on the incident. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a stern warning against any spillover violence from the war abroad.

Abbott stated that the state would respond aggressively to anyone attempting to “use the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texas.”

University of Texas President Jim Davis expressed his condolences on social media, acknowledging that the victims included “members of our Longhorn family.” He added, “Our prayers are with the victims and all those impacted.”

A Pattern of Violence

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson credited the rapid intervention of law enforcement with preventing further loss of life. “They definitely saved lives,” Watson said.

The shooting marks the fifth mass casualty event in the United States this year. It also adds to a troubling history for Austin’s Sixth Street, which has seen at least two other high-profile shootings in the last five years, including a 2021 incident that left 14 people injured.

As of the latest, three of the 14 wounded survivors remained in critical condition.

With inputs from AP