(New York, N.Y.)—The Counter Extremism Project extends its condolences victims of the mass shooting on Sixth Street in Austin. CEP commends the swift response of the Austin Police Department and first responders, without whom more lives would surely have been taken and lost. 

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating whether the attack was terrorism-related and whether the perpetrator was connected to or inspired by foreign extremist organizations. The perpetrator has been identified as 53-year old Senegal-born Ndiaga Diagne, who was shot and killed by police after opening fire at a bar, killing two individuals and wounding 14 others in the early morning of March 1. Reports indicate that Diagne wore clothing bearing Islamist slogans, including “Property of Allah,” and a t-shirt with the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Authorities also recovered extremist Islamist materials from his vehicle and home and are reviewing his social media activity.

CEP CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace stated:

“Diagne’s ties to extremist Islam, if confirmed, must be addressed directly. We welcome the FBI’s focus on determining whether this act was inspired or otherwise enabled by foreign terrorist elements including possible sympathies with or connections to the regime in Tehran.

“Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has long cultivated networks capable of inspiring or directing violence beyond its borders. The United States has already witnessed plots tied to Tehran on American soil in recent years.

“Terrorism inspired by radical Islamist ideology remains a persistent threat. As Senator John Cornyn stated, ‘radical Islam has no place in Texas or our country.’ CEP supports policies aimed at disrupting extremist networks and holding state sponsors of terrorism accountable.”