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U.S. NEWS Monday 9 deceMber 2019
FBI says it presumes base

shooting was act of terrorism

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON ordered all students from judge the investigation,
and MIKE BALSAMO the country to remain at but it appears that this
Associated Press one location at the base, may be someone that was
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — authorities said. radicalized.” O’Brien said
The Saudi gunman who “There are a number of he did not see evidence
killed three people at the Saudi students who are so far of a “broader plot.”
Pensacola naval base close to the shooter and The U.S. has long had a
had apparently gone on continue to cooperate in robust training program
Twitter shortly before the this investigation,” Rojas for Saudis, providing as-
shooting to blast U.S. sup- said. “The Saudi govern- sistance in the U.S. and in
port of Israel and accuse ment has pledged to fully the kingdom. More than
America of being anti- cooperate with our inves- 850 Saudis are in the Unit-
Muslim, a U.S. official said tigation.” ed States for various train-
Sunday as the FBI con- Earlier in the week of the ing activities. They are This undated photo provided
firmed it is operating on shooting, Alshamrani host- among more than 5,000 by the FBI shows Mohammed
the assumption the attack ed a dinner party where he foreign students from 153 Alshamrani. The Saudi student
opened fire inside a classroom
was an act of terrorism. and three others watched countries in the U.S. going at Naval Air Station Pensacola
Investigators are also work- videos of mass shootings, through military training. on Friday before one of the
ing to establish whether another U.S. official told “This has been done for deputies killed him.
the killer, identified as 2nd the AP on Saturday. many decades,” Trump Associated Press
Lt. Mohammed Alsham- Alshamrani wounded two said on Saturday. “I guess
rani, 21, of the Royal Saudi sheriff’s deputies, one in we’re going to have to cedure. We’ll start that
Air Force, acted alone. the arm and one in the look into the whole pro- immediately.”q
Alshamrani, who was killed knee, before one of them
in the attack at a class- killed him. Eight others
room building Friday, was were also hurt. Both depu-
undergoing flight train- ties were expected to sur-
ing at Pensacola, where vive.
members of foreign mili- Alshamrani used a Glock
taries routinely receive in- 9 mm weapon that had
struction. been purchased legally in
“We are, as we do in most Florida, Rojas said.
active-shooter investiga- Family members and oth-
tions, work with the pre- ers identified the three
sumption that this was an dead as Joshua Kaleb
act of terrorism,” said Ra- Watson, a 23-year-old
chel L. Rojas, FBI agent in graduate of the U.S. Na-
charge. val Academy; Airman Mo-
Authorities believe the hammed Sameh Haitham,
gunman made social me- 19, of St. Petersburg, Flori-
dia posts criticizing the U.S. da, who joined the Navy
under a user handle similar after graduating from high
to his name, but federal school last year; and Air-
law enforcement officials man Apprentice Cam-
are investigating whether eron Scott Walters, 21, of
he authored the words Richmond Hill, Georgia.
or just posted them, said The official who spoke
the official, who was not Saturday said one of the
authorized to discuss the three students who at-
matter publicly and spoke tended the dinner party
to The Associated Press on hosted by the attacker re-
condition of anonymity. corded video outside the
Also, investigators believe classroom building while
the gunman visited New the shooting was taking
York City, including Rock- place. Two other Saudi
efeller Center, days be- students watched from a
fore the shooting and are car, the official said.
working to determine the President Donald Trump’s
purpose of the trip, the of- national security adviser,
ficial said. Robert O’Brien, said on
All international students CBS’ “”Face the Nation”
at the Pensacola base that the shooting looked
have been accounted like “terrorism or akin to
for, there have been no terrorism.” But he cau-
arrests, and the commu- tioned that the FBI was still
nity is under no immedi- investigating.
ate threat, Rojas said at a “Look, to me it appears
news conference. A Saudi to be a terrorist attack,”
commanding officer has he said. “I don’t want pre-