
Audio By Carbonatix
The FBI says it is treating Friday's deadly attack on a Florida navy base as a presumed terrorist attack.The Saudi gunman - who was training at the Pensacola site - killed three sailors before he was shot dead.Special agent Rachel Rojas said the FBI was trying to determine if he had acted alone or had connections to a group.She said other Saudi students had had been questioned but not arrested. They were reportedly confined to the base, co-operating with investigators.The victims of the attack have been named as Joshua Kaleb Watson, 23, Mohammed Sameh Haitham, 19, and Cameron Scott Walters, 21.The US Navy said the sailors "showed exceptional heroism and bravery in the face of evil".In Sunday's press conference, Ms Rojas gave almost no details of the investigation's findings so far.However, she did say that the gunman, 21-year-old Mohammed Alshamrani, bought his weapon legally in the US. It was a 9mm handgun.A Twitter user appearing to match Alshamrani's identity made a series of anti-US posts before the shooting, an online monitoring group says.It has also been reported in US media that Alshamrani played mass-shooting videos to others at a dinner earlier in the week, according to an anonymous official briefed on the investigation.
The gunman has been officially named as Mohammed Alshamrani by the FBIEarlier US Defence Secretary Mark Esper ordered a review of the screening process for foreign military in the US.Mr Esper told Fox News Sunday he had instructed top defence officials to look into security measures at bases.President Donald Trump has also pledged to review foreign military programmes.
Family members of Joshua Kaleb Watson said he was shot several times but made it out of the building to alert first responders.On Facebook, his brother Adam Watson wrote: "He died a hero and we are beyond proud but there is a hole in our hearts that can never be filled."Capt Tim Kinsella, the base's commanding officer, said of the three sailors killed: "When confronted, they didn't run from danger; they ran towards it and saved lives."Saudi Arabia is a key US ally in the Middle East and President Trump said the Saudi king called him after the attack to "express his sincere condolences and give his sympathies to the families and friends of the warriors who were killed".
Why were Saudis at the US base?
The Pensacola base has long offered aviation training to foreign military forces.Saudi pilots started training there in 1995, alongside other personnel from Italy, Singapore and Germany.Cpt Kinsella Jnr said that about 200 international students were enrolled in programmes there. According to its website, the base employs more than 16,000 military and 7,400 civilian personnel.Alshamrani was a second lieutenant in the Saudi Air Force.
The gunman has been officially named as Mohammed Alshamrani by the FBIEarlier US Defence Secretary Mark Esper ordered a review of the screening process for foreign military in the US.Mr Esper told Fox News Sunday he had instructed top defence officials to look into security measures at bases.President Donald Trump has also pledged to review foreign military programmes.What happened on Friday?
Authorities were alerted to the shooting at the Pensacola base at 06:51 (11:51 GMT).It took place across two floors of a classroom building and ended when a sheriff's deputy killed Alshamrani.Eight people were also injured in the shooting, including two officers, who are expected to recover.
Questions over the US-Saudi relationship
Just as he did in the wake of the murder of the dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in his country's consulate in Istanbul, President Trump is seeking to play down the significance of the Pensacola shooting.For a president who largely sees foreign policy in transactional terms, Saudi Arabia is a great customer for the US. Billions of dollars in weapons sales translates into more than 5,500 temporary visas being issued to the Saudi military to come to the US. Saudi personnel make up about 16% of the foreign personnel being trained at US military schools and other facilities. The Pensacola shooting is already raising questions about the vetting of these individuals.But more broadly it once again highlights the long-standing relationship between Washington and Riyadh - a relationship that many critics in Congress see as increasingly dubious in the wake of the Khashoggi murder and the Saudi military onslaught in Yemen.DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Trump seeks $152m to reopen notorious Alcatraz prison
9 minutes -
Ex-Chelsea player Oscar retires with heart issue
18 minutes -
CA Foundation drives constitutional literacy in Kpone Katamanso municipality
23 minutes -
GPRTU to hold talks with Transport Ministry over rising fuel costs
26 minutes -
CUTS International urges gov’t to halt sachet water price hike pending cost review
32 minutes -
Chief Justice: Efficient Judiciary essential to reducing business costs
35 minutes -
Bayern grabs 99th-minute winner to cap superb fightback
35 minutes -
Ahmed Ibrahim urges Ghanaians to reflect Easter values in nation-building
39 minutes -
ECG inefficiencies undermining power supply -Mahama outlines reforms
40 minutes -
Lewandowski scores as Barca fight back to defeat Atletico
41 minutes -
Lack of private sector consultation undermining economic growth – Jerry Ahmed Shaib
45 minutes -
Real Madrid seven points adrift after Muriqi’s late Mallorca winner
45 minutes -
Ghana must lead AfCFTA implementation by example – Trade Minister Ofosu-Adjare
50 minutes -
Strong Judiciary key to business confidence – Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie
54 minutes -
Mahama announces 60-Hectare irrigation project to boost tomato production
1 hour