The U.S. military has identified the gunman in Pensacola as Second Lt. Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, a Saudi officer who was undergoing flight training at the base. The FBI is now investigating to determine if it was an act of terrorism. The New York Times reports:
“Six other Saudi nationals were detained for questioning near the scene of the shooting, including three who were seen filming the entire incident, according to a person briefed on the initial stages of the investigation. A group that monitors online jihadist activity said that shortly before the shooting, a Twitter account with a name matching the gunman’s posted a “will” calling the United States a “nation of evil” and criticizing its support for Israel.“
Authorities say Alshamrani used a pistol in the attack at the Pensacola Naval Air Station where three people were killed and eight others wounded.
“The gunman was using a locally purchased Glock 45 9-millimeter handgun with an extended magazine and had four to six other magazines in his possession when he was taken down by a sheriff’s deputy, the person familiar with the investigation said.“
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, who continues his unwavering support for Saudi Arabia, spoke to King Salman:
“The king said that the Saudi people are greatly angered by the barbaric actions of the shooter and that this person in no way, shape or form represents the feelings of the Saudi people who love the American people so much,” Trump said.
The Times writes that it there was no immediate connection between the gunman and those filming the event. But the SITE intelligence group, which monitors Jihadist activity, relayed Twitter postings three hours before the shooting:
“Your decision-makers, the politicians, the lobbyists and the major corporations are the ones gaining from your foreign policy, and you are the ones paying the price for it.”
