The fiend behind Sunday’s bloodbath at a packed Austin bar was an ex-New York City resident wearing a “Property of Allah” hoodie, and he was possibly out for vengeance over the US attack on Iran, law-enforcement sources told The Post.
Texas shooter Ndiaga Diagne, 53, had a Quran in his car and was possibly also wearing an undershirt featuring the Iranian flag or other Iranian symbols when he opened fire on Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden near the University of Texas-Austin campus, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
A chilling newly released photo shows Austin mass shooter Ndiaga Diagne toting a rifle and wearing a hooded sweatshirt emblazoned with “Property of Allah”.
Diagne, 53, a former New York City resident and immigrant from Senegal, opened fire at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden in Texas early Sunday, killing 2 people and injuring 14 others.
The eerie photo shows Diagne, mouth agape, wearing what appears to be camouflage trousers and holding a black long gun at his right-hand side.
Diagne, a US citizen originally from Senegal, was naturalised in 2013 and applied for asylum in 2016, sources said.
He also had a history of arrests in New York City and Texas. He is believed to have lived in the Big Apple for years, arriving in 2000 and then racking up a string of arrests between 2001 and 2016, sources said.
He was arrested in 2001 for illegal vending. His other 3 city busts are sealed, sources said.
“Obviously it’s still way too early in the process to determine the exact motivation, but there were indicators on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate a potential nexus to terrorism,” said Alex Doran, acting Special Agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio office, to reporters.
The attack happened about 2 am, closing time for the popular nightspot, as hundreds of people were leaving to head home.
Diagne’s large SUV was spotted travelling around the block several times before he stopped in front of the bar and began shooting out of his front window with a pistol, hitting patrons on the front patio, according to Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis.
He then parked his car, got out, and began shooting at people walking by on the street, the chief said.
Police confronted the shooter in less than 1 minute of the first gunshot at an intersection on 6th Street and shot him, cops said.
2 victims and the shooter died at the scene. First responders rushed 14 other patients to nearby hospitals, 3 of whom were in critical condition.
“Our hearts go out to the people that are victims of this, and I want to reiterate my thanks to our public safety officers and officials that so rapidly were on the scene; they definitely saved lives,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said.
“This act of violence will not define us, nor will it shake the resolve of Texans. To anyone who thinks about using the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texans or our critical infrastructure, understand this clearly: Texas will respond with decisive and overwhelming force to protect our state,” Texas govt Greg Abbott said in a statement.
