U.S. official doubts ISIL claim of violence

WASHINGTON • Two gunmen who attacked an exhibition in Texas of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad were most likely inspired, but not directed, by terrorist groups overseas, a U.S. official said.

Islamic State claimed in a radio broadcast that it was responsible for the attack, which ended with two suspects shot dead Sunday in a gun battle with police outside a conference centre in a Dallas suburb. A security guard was injured.

The U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said federal agents haven’t uncovered any evidence that the two gunmen were told by ISIL to target the conference. That could change as FBI agents continue reviewing the assailants’ communications and Internet histories, the official said.

The assailants, clad in body armour and brandishing assault rifles, were seeking to attack an exhibition of Prophet Muhammad cartoons hosted by the American Freedom Defence Initiative, a New Yorkbased group whose leader has spoken out against what she calls the “Islamization” of the U.S. Such depictions of Muhammad are considered an insult by Muslims.

The White House isn’t ready

(Elton) Simpson has long been on the radar of federal agents

to rule in or rule out any connection to ISIL or other radical groups until more facts are known, press secretary Josh Earnest said.

There are attempts by extremist groups around the world to radicalize and recruit individuals via social media, including in the U.S., Earnest said. The government is “very vigilant” in trying to intercept people suspected of radicalization before they act.

The two dead men have been identified as Elton Simpson, 30, and his roommate, Nadir Soofi, 34, of Phoenix.

Simpson has long been on the radar of federal agents concerned about his ties to terrorism. In 2010, he was indicted on federal charges of lying to FBI agents about his desire to travel to Somalia to wage jihad. A federal judge found Simpson guilty of lying to agents about having discussed his wish to go to Somalia, but she ruled that the government failed to prove he was seeking to fight there.

Top U.S. law enforcement officials have warned of their increasing concern that “lone wolf ” actors could be inspired to hostilities by extremist rhetoric and that terrorist groups would then claim credit. Former attorney general Eric Holder said in February that such inspired attacks represented a “new era” in terrorism.

U.S. officials point to recent attacks as evidence of their concerns: a rampage in Paris in January that involved, in part, an attack on a satirical magazine that published images of Muhammad; a December siege at a Sydney café in which two hostages were slain; and an October shooting rampage in Ottawa and separate car attack in Quebec that killed two.