Police officials in Garland, Texas have identified the two men who were killed by officers Sunday after opening fire at an event where people were invited to showcase cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. Imagery representing the Prophet is considered offensive to the Islamic faith. The gunmen were named as Eltom Simpson — previously ID’d as a terrorism suspect by the FBI — and Nadir Soofi.
Events unfolded as the two men arrived outside the Curtis Culwell Center at about 6:50 p.m. Sunday and emerged from their vehicle with assault rifles. The suspects began shooting, wounding a security guard. They were fatally shot by an unnamed traffic officer in a police car parked nearby before additional police and security forces converged on the scene.
The event was organized by New York-based group American Freedom Defense Initiative, an outspoken anti-muslim organization that also uses the name Stop Islamization of America. The event included a contest for the “best” caricature of Muhammad, offering a $10,000 prize. Prominent anti-Islamist Pamela Geller was an organizer, and the event was attended by Netherlands Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders, who delivered a speech.
The attack is reminiscent of the tragic mass shooting at the Paris offices of satirical paper Charlie Hebdo in January, which left 12 people dead.
