Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called the deadly shooting in Austin an “act of terror” and blamed an “unvetted immigrant loophole.”
Three people were killed, and 14 others were hospitalized after a shooting early Sunday in downtown Austin, prompting state officials to increase security measures statewide.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Ndiaga Diagne, 53, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Senegal, Fox News reported. He had previously lived in New York City and was residing in Pflugerville, Texas, according to the outlet. Diagne became a U.S. citizen in 2013, according to Fox News.
Responding to a video of state Representative James Talarico, a candidate in the upcoming Democratic primary for US Senate, Abbott wrote on X: “The problem here, James, is not the gun show loophole. It’s the unvetted immigrant loophole. Allowing unvetted immigrants who are hostile to America, who are loyal to our adversaries like Iran, must end.
“This was an act of terror, James. The way to end it is to end the current open immigration policies. You and your immigration policies would make America less safe.”
The U.S. and Israel launched ongoing military strikes against targets in Iran on Saturday, when Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, according to Iranian state media.
Abbott warned in a press release that Texas would respond to anyone trying to “use the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texas.”
This is a developing story; updates to follow.
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