Austin shooting leaves three dead as FBI flags 'potential nexus to terrorism' in overnight attack

Austin shooting probed as potential terrorism

Three people were killed and 14 others wounded in an overnight shooting in downtown Austin, the capital of Texas, with the FBI saying on Sunday that the incident may have constituted an “act of terrorism.”

Austin police chief Lisa Davis said at a press conference that the gunman, who has not been identified, was among those killed.

FBI special agent Alex Doran stated that the exact motive remained unclear, but “there were indicators on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate a potential nexus to terrorism.”

“In terms of specifically what type of terrorism, we're just at this point prepared to say that it was potentially an act of terrorism,” Doran added.

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has joined local authorities in the investigation.

The attack occurred amid heightened security across several US cities following US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which killed Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and several other senior officials.

Davis said the assailant was shot by police who responded swiftly to the shooting, which took place around 2:00 am in Austin's entertainment district.

The officers "were faced with the individual with a gun and three of our officers returned fire, killing the suspect," the police chief said.

Davis said the gunman first opened fire with a pistol from his car on patrons of Buford's Backyard Beer Garden in downtown Austin.

He then parked his car and emerged with a rifle and began shooting at people who were walking by, Davis said.

Three of the wounded were in critical condition, officials said.

(With AFP inputs)