Terrorists open fire on "Draw Muhammed" event in Garland, TX

[Ace101]

I'm glad that no one other than the 2 terrorists were killed - here's hoping people don't go the PC route and cave out of fear of terrorists.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/05/us/garland-texas-prophet-mohammed-contest-shooting/

(CNN)ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack outside a Prophet Mohammed cartoon contest in Texas -- and warned of more attacks to come.

In a broadcast on its official radio channel Tuesday, the group said two Al Khilafa soldiers opened fire outside the event in Garland, a Dallas suburb. Al Khilafa is how ISIS refers to its soldiers.

CNN cannot confirm the claim, and ISIS offered no evidence the gunmen were affiliated with the terror organization.

The gunmen, Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi, wounded a security guard before police shot and killed them.

Nadir Soofi, left, and Elton Simpson were the two gunmen in the Garland, Texas, shooting.
Nadir Soofi, left, and Elton Simpson were the two gunmen in the Garland, Texas, shooting.
The ISIS radio announcer also referred to Simpson and Soofi as the terror group's "brothers." The announcement ended with this warning:

"We say to the defenders of the cross, the U.S., that future attacks are going to be harsher and worse. The Islamic State soldiers will inflict harm on you with the grace of God. The future is just around the corner."

ISIS sympathizers or operatives?
While ISIS claimed responsibility two days after the attack, there was no immediate indication that the terror group in Iraq and Syria had contact with Simpson or Soofi, who both lived in Phoenix.

Former FBI agent Tim Clemente said the gunmen may have plotted the attack without direction from ISIS.

"They may not have had formal contact (with ISIS). They may have had email communication or read communications from ISIS, but I don't think they were directed by ISIS," Clemente said.

"I think it's the other way around -- they were kind of applying for membership into ISIS. And so they were doing this act, sent out the tweet in advance because if they know there's a possibility they're not going to make it out of this, then they can't give recognition to what they were trying to do after the fact."

On Tuesday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest described what happened as "an attempted terrorist act (that) was foiled." U.S. authorities, meanwhile, are still looking into what links -- if any -- Sunday's shooters had to international terrorism.

But there are clues that one of the gunmen was an ISIS sympathizer.

ISIS claims responsibility for Texas attack
ISIS claims responsibility for Texas attack 03:53
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Moments before the attack, Simpson posted a tweet with the hashtag #texasattack: "May Allah accept us as mujahideen."

The tweet also said he and his fellow attacker had pledged allegiance to "Amirul Mu'mineen," which means "the leader of the faithful." CNN terrorism analyst Paul Cruickshank said that likely refers to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Earlier, Simpson had asked his followers on Twitter to follow an ISIS propagandist.

After the shooting, the propagandist tweeted: "Allahu Akbar!!!! 2 of our brothers just opened fire."

Both Twitter accounts have been deactivated.

One U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the shooting was "certainly more than just inspiration" by ISIS, but that assessment does not mean the terror group gave the gunmen specific instructions.

A law enforcement official told CNN the attack does not appear to be a clear-cut case of a lone wolf, nor a pure case of someone directed by others to act. Rather, the official said, it appears to be something in between the two extremes.

The attack fits a well-known pattern of ISIS recruitment and incitement: encouraging sympathizers via a sophisticated social media campaign to join the fight in Syria, or, if they cannot, to carry out terror attacks on their own at home, U.S. officials said Tuesday.

Who are the Americans linked to ISIS?

Earlier terror-related charge
In 2011, Simpson was convicted of making a false statement involving international and domestic terrorism. Prosecutors said he told FBI agents he had not discussed traveling to Somalia to engage in "violent jihad" -- when, in fact, he had, according to an indictment.

Were Texas shooters self-radicalized?
Were Texas shooters self-radicalized? 02:08
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Simpson was sentenced to three years of probation, court records show.

Soofi, on the other hand, was relatively unknown to federal investigators, a law enforcement official told CNN.

Authorities knew of no indication the pair planned to launch Sunday's attack, another law enforcement official said.

Two law enforcement officials say that it's believed Simpson and Soofie drove from Phoenix, Arizona, to Garland, but officials did not specify the exact timeline of when the trip was made.

A separate law enforcement source said the two long guns and four handguns found in their car were bought legally.

The FBI searched the apartment Simpson and Soofie shared and found it to be relatively barren, one of the law enforcement officials said. Authorities retrieved a hard drive, which is being analyzed, the official said.

Investigators are trying to ascertain whether the two gunmen had any associates in Phoenix, or across the United States, who share their ideology. The FBI is scrubbing the deceased attackers' electronics and interviewing friends in a bid to draw possible connections.

Garland shooting: What we know about Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi

Event featured Prophet Mohammed cartoons
Simpson and Soofi drove to Garland equipped with body armor and assault rifles.

Inside the city's Curtis Culwell Center, the American Freedom Defense Initiative was hosting a cartoon contest featuring depictions of the Prophet Mohammed, which many Muslims consider sacrilege.

Why images of Mohammed offend Muslims

The two assailants drove up to the center and started shooting, striking a security guard in the ankle. But Garland police returned fire, killing the gunmen before they were able to enter the building.

Traffic officer praised for thwarting Texas attack
Traffic officer praised for thwarting Texas attack 02:15
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Police "faced death head-on and, with incredible skill and bravery, were able to save a lot of people," said Zach Horn, an attorney for the officers.

The shooting stirred memories of other attacks this year in France and Denmark.

In January, gunmen attacked the offices of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical magazine that has a controversial history of depicting Mohammed, and killed 12 people.

In February, a gunman attacked a free speech forum in Copenhagen, Denmark, featuring artist Lars Vilks, who infuriated al Qaeda with his depictions of Mohammed.

[dtq123]

 

[Hijiri Byakuren]

Posted this before, but it's good to see some follow-up. I wonder if ISIS realizes how foolish they look taking credit for such a stupendously botched operation.

[Brian37]

Isis looks like assholes even when they do succeed.

[AllPurposeAtheist]

If CNN reports it you can almost bet they made up 75% of the story.. I'm surprised nobody is claiming Obama sent them..

[Mike Cl]

If CNN reports it you can almost bet they made up 75% of the story.. I'm surprised nobody is claiming Obama sent them..

Oh--they do.  But you have to turn to Faux News to get that story.

[Atheon]

A couple of inept morons attempt to kill, fail miserably, get killed themselves... and ISISANAEEITWBOGKS* comes up with the boneheaded idea of making the bogus claim that it's their handiwork.

We are dealing with idiots.

*Islamic State in Iraq, Syria And Now Apparently Everywhere Else In The World Because Our Geography Knowledge Sucks

[pr126]

You will be relieved to know that the incident had nothing to do with Islam.

Elton Simpson? Homer's brother? Come on.

[drunkenshoe]

One of the attackers connected himself to ISIS and declared they recognised their ideology. ISIS doesn't have to have a direct hand in it to be connected to this attempt. It's also not important that the attempt was unsuccessful or botched. The result is not important, because the first point of act of terrorism is to declare lethal threat to civilians. To scare people and make them paranoid, feel unsafe at their home. That's done. People don't think that 'oh they were killed, so it is OK we should repeat it again any time soon'.

In this case, for ISIS, actually this one was a better one than something they planned and attempted themselves, because attackers are Americans born and bred in the States. It is not something the public can blame on a couple of foreigners who came from The Middle East and got into their land to kill. That makes people more scared. It makes them scared from their fellow countrymen. Paranoia. Fear. So it was inevitable that they would jump on it. They would do the same thing even there wasn't a self declared connection by one of the attackers.

All acts of terrorism are political. These attackers acted in behalf of ISIS. They saw their own country as enemy. They saw it as another 'side' to 'fight' against. Self radicalisation at this level -make a plan, get weapons; go out and kill innocent civilians, self declared connection to ISIS- suggests an understanding of 'retaliation'. No not a retaliation against a cartoon show . That's a ready pattern.

These attackers were born and grew up in American society where the culture is predominently visual which has evolved through two thousands of years by religious image making of any sort. The accounts of people who know them points that they made decent neighbours, they were reachable and interacted with others just more than a 'hello, how are you doing'. This is not a profile of a religious terrorist who acted for his own religious fanatism just for the sake of religion. They do not interact with people. They do not act like them. They reject society and the people fundamentally and see interacting with them as getting 'corrupted'. Also as something that would create circumstance for temptation. An attack to their 'pure' existence. 

Theirs is a political act first. And a cartoon show is just the best opportunity. They could have opened fire in a crowded place and randomly kill people  -which has been done before and also another pattern of religious terrorism- by screaming allahu akbar. Highly likely they would have succeeded at killing one or two 'infidels'. Their aim was not just killing people. They saw themselves as at a 'side' working for something.

Unfortunately, as I understand it is a bit too much trouble for most Americans to ask some questions, because clearly nobody is interested in something a bit complicated than one line explanations. These 'sceptics' are rather content with 'religion did it' which practically equals to 'god did it'. You have more faith in religion than religious people do. You see religion as something more than they do and accept its function as religious people trying to promote in society all over the world. And talk about 'freedom of speech'.

Why these people are doing this? Esp. Americans and Europeans? They were born in a society, where even the best assimilated muslims are 3rd-4th class citizens. A minority that is constantly looked down, humiliated. Why do people demote themselves and make their lives far more difficult than it would be and accept to die that easily? Because they are mentally ill fanatics, is that it?

Do you remember any Americans or Europeans commiting any acts of terrorism for some 'enemy' religion 15 years ago? White European young people leaving their home to join ISIS?

In the near future, if Christians attack gay people, it won't be something simple that you can answer with 'it's Christianity' either. It will be the position of the 'class' they are reduced to, it will be their 'new identity' they are fighting against. The constant demotion they are subjected to. The political power they keep losing. They will see everything as a threat to their existence. And attacking gay people will be an opportunity, a channel to strike back. Well, of course American society will resist to define them as 'terrorists' anyway. But acts will be the same. The couple who killed 7 people were domestic terrorists. They acted with the same intent of these two. There is no difference. 

[pr126]

Why these people are doing this? Esp. Americans and Europeans? They were born in a society, where even the best assimilated muslims are 3rd-4th class citizens. A minority that is constantly looked down, humiliated.

Yet, they keep coming to the land of the infidels in the millions, often risking their lives in rickety boats, and any which way, just to be constantly looked down, and humiliated by the kufar.

Oh, and let's not forget the free housing, schooling, medical treatments, welfare and anything that can be got from the kuffar even by threats and intimidation.

If Islam [religion] did not exist, they would still roam the planet with Kalashnikovs, knives and bombs just because they are  constantly looked down, and humiliated.

Yeah. Right.

Of course they would not dream to treat non Muslims, women, or minorities as 3rd-4th class citizens in their own hell holes.

[drunkenshoe]

Yet, they keep coming to the land of the infidels in the millions, often risking their lives in rickety boats, and any which way, just to be constantly looked down, and humiliated by the kufar.

Oh, and let's not forget the free housing, schooling, medical treatments, welfare and anything that can be got from the kuffar even by threats and intimidation.

If Islam [religion] did not exist, they would still roam the planet with Kalashnikovs, knives and bombs just because they are  constantly looked down, and humiliated.

Yeah. Right.

Of course they would not dream to treat non Muslims, women, or minorities as 3rd-4th class citizens in their own hell holes.

It's too much to expect you to read what you wrote and try to make sense of it, isn't it?

[AllPurposeAtheist]

I suspect that these guys would have found any number of reasons to try to kill others then claim it was for ISIS.. For all we know they didn't get invited to the pretty girls birthday party and felt shunned.. pr..do you check under your bed every night for the boogieman? I suspect that you do. 

[pr126]

I suspect that these guys would have found any number of reasons to try to kill others then claim it was for ISIS.. For all we know they didn't get invited to the pretty girls birthday party and felt shunned.. pr..do you check under your bed every night for the boogieman? I suspect that you do. 

It must be that Islamophobia everybody talks about.

[drunkenshoe]

It must be that Islamophobia everybody talks about.

Oh I don't think you are islamophobic at all. If muslims disappeared from Europe right now, you would start to talk about other immigrants the same way.

[pr126]

lol. I am an immigrant myself. From Eastern Europe.
I have no problem with any ethnicities at all.

I am against Religious fascism. That is all.