Two Dead at Garland, Texas AFDI Muhammad Art Contest

SWAT Team officer at Garland Texas Muhaammd Art Contest Shooting

WFAA Chanell 8 ABC Breaking news. Two shot dead outside Muhammad Art Exhibit in Garland, Texas, at which Texas US Rep. (Louie Gohmert (R-TX) Dutch Freedom Party (PVV) Leader Geert Wilders and Robert Spencer   were present. Approximtaely 200 people attended the event. Walid Phares, Fox News consultant who was interviewed about the incident indicated that he thought this was a Jihad attack on a political event organized by activists including a recognized European politician which puts it on a different level. Geller, who was also interviewed,by Fox News,  said we are living in an age of Global jihad. ISIS had encouraged  possible attacks by followers here in the US. See our Iconoclast post on Wilders US Capitol Hill press conference, here.  WFAA reported:Two men were shot and killed in a parking lot outside the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland Sunday afternoon, SWAT officials told News 8.The two suspects drove up and opened fire on the center, which was hosting a Muhammad Art exhibit, and hit a Garland ISD officer.That officer suffered non-life threatening injuries, according to a spokesman for Garland Police.Police were searching the area for a vehicle that had explosives in it. SWAT members were already at the scene for the art event.Rowlett/Sachse Scanner reported on Facebook that a suspect was inside a nearby Walmart, off Garland Avenue and Naaman Forest Boulevard, with a hand grenade.

Breitbart had more information:

Armed police officers rushed in to the Mohammed Art Exhibit and Contest and quickly removed Pamela Geller and whisked her away to safety after a gunfight erupted outside of the event. A law enforcement officer and two suspects are reportedly down, according to police on the scene. Three Breitbart Texas reporters are locked down inside of the event. The officers on the scene said that possible explosives were found. The extrication of Geller occurred during a live video interview with Breitbart Texas.

The attendees to the exhibit were forced into lockdown by police. Several officers entered the exhibit and informed the attendees that an officer was down, two suspects had been shot, and that possible explosives were found.

UPDATE, 9:58 PM: Bomb squads arrive on the scene — and the wounded officer has been released from the hospital. 

UPDATE, 9:56 PM: In an interview with Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM, Breitbart Texas Director Brandon Darby speculated that the shooting was timed for the end of the conference so that the gunmen could target the crowd flooding out into the parking lot. The event went longer than expected, which potentially prevented further casualties. The event was initially scheduled to end at 7 PM.

UPDATE, 9:49 PM: The wounded officer was reportedly shot in the leg, according to The Telegraph, which was swift to attribute its disapproval of the event to “critics”:

Two gunmen have been shot dead after opening fire at an art exhibition in Texas where caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed were being displayed.

Police said the suspects, allegedly armed with explosives, were killed outside the Curtis Culwell Centre in Garland, which was hosting an art show of drawings of the Prophet.

 

An officer was also reportedly injured after being shot in the leg.

The event was billed as a “free speech event” by its sponsor, the American Freedom Defense Initiative, which has been criticised by opponents for being anti-Islam.

UPDATE, 9:45 PM: Cops are herding people back into the building, while buses help to evacuate the attendees. 

UPDATE, 9:33 PM: Police are searching multiple vehicles for explosives: 

Two men have been shot by police outside the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas Sunday afternoon, Garland police have confirmed. Police said two men pulled up in a vehicle and shot a Garland ISD Police officer outside the building. The men were then shot and killed by Garland police. The officer who was shot remains in a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Businesses near the area were evacuated, including a nearby Walmart. Police are preparing to search vehicles parked outside for explosives.

UPDATE, 9:20 PM: The car may contain explosives, according to WFAA8: 

Two men were shot and killed in a parking lot outside the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland Sunday afternoon, SWAT officials told News 8. The two suspects drove up and opened fire on the center, which was hosting a Muhammad Art exhibit, and hit a Garland ISD officer. That officer suffered non-life threatening injuries, according to a spokesman for Garland Police. Police were searching the area for a vehicle that had explosives in it. SWAT members were already at the scene for the art event. Rowlett/Sachse Scanner reported on Facebook that a suspect was inside a nearby Walmart, off Garland Avenue and Naaman Forest Boulevard, with a hand grenade. A 1,000-foot radius around the Walmart was shut down and the Academy Store was evacuated, according to that page.

UPDATE, 9:14 PM: Garland Police have reportedly evacuated a nearby WalMart and are searching the car the suspects allegedly drove to the event. 

UPDATE, 9:06 PM: A local NBC reporter says the two suspects are dead.

UPDATE, 8:59 PM: Police have the area blocked off and have removed reporters for up to half a mile away. Helicopters are patrolling the skies and police are standing in the intersection, blocking the roads and are armed with M-16s. 

UPDATE, 8:51 PM: A senior officer has said that the officer taken to the hospital will be OK, and that the two suspects will not be OK. The 100 people being held inside singing the Star-Spangled Banner to comfort themselves. 

UPDATE, 8:45 PM: Police appeared to have escorted a few individuals through a conference room, and continue to patrol the perimeter. 

UPDATE: Suspects had two AK-47’s according to police on the scene. The officer has been transported to the hospital. The suspects are still on the ground at the scene. They are not moving and are not being touched at this time until a bomb squad checks out their bodies.

Approximately 100 people are being held by police in a secured facility inside the event.