"Two armed men were killed after opening fire on a security guard outside an exhibit of artistic depictions of the Muslim prophet Muhammad in suburban Dallas Sunday evening.
The city of Garland said in a statement posted on its Facebook page that the men drove up to the Curtis Culwell Center and began shooting at the security officer. Garland Police Department officers engaged the gunmen who were both shot and killed.
The city said the security officer's injuries were not life-threatening. KDFW reported late Sunday that the officer, an 8-year veteran of the Garland Independent School District security force, was released from a local hospital.
The statement did not say whether the shooting was related to the event.
Authorities said they were worried that the suspects' car could contain an incendiary device. Several nearby businesses were evacuated as a precaution and a bomb squad was on the scene late Sunday night. Police had cordoned off a large area and at least three helicopters circled overhead.
The Associated Press reported that an officer dressed in SWAT gear took the stage toward the end of the event and told attendees that a shooting had occurred.
About 75 attendees were taken to another room. Later, a group of 48 people were escorted to a school bus. Authorities told attendees they would be taken to a nearby high school. A second group was set to be moved shortly after.
The New York-based American Freedom Defense Initiative had been hosting a contest at the center that would award $10,000 for the best cartoon depicting Muhammad.
Such drawings are deemed insulting to many followers of Islam and have sparked violence around the world. According to mainstream Islamic tradition, any physical depiction of Muhammad -- even a respectful one -- is considered blasphemous.
Johnny Roby of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was attending the conference. He told the AP he was outside the building when he heard around about 20 shots that appeared to be coming from the direction of a passing car.
Roby said he then heard two single shots. He said he heard officers yell that they had the car before he was sent inside the building.
Pamela Geller, president of the AFDI, told the AP before Sunday's event that she planned the contest to make a stand for free speech in response to outcries and violence over drawings of Muhammad.
In January, 12 people were killed by gunmen in an attack against the Paris office of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, which had lampooned Islam and other religions and used depictions of Muhammad.
Though it remained unclear several hours after the shooting whether it was related to event, she said Sunday night that the shooting showed how "needed our event really was."
Geller's group is known for mounting a campaign against the building of an Islamic center blocks from the World Trade Center site and for buying advertising space in cities across the U.S. criticizing Islam."
Wonder if this was an attack on the police or an attempted attack on the event. Either way the good guys won!
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/05/03/police-shooting-at-muhammad-cartoon-contest-in-texas/
The city of Garland said in a statement posted on its Facebook page that the men drove up to the Curtis Culwell Center and began shooting at the security officer. Garland Police Department officers engaged the gunmen who were both shot and killed.
The city said the security officer's injuries were not life-threatening. KDFW reported late Sunday that the officer, an 8-year veteran of the Garland Independent School District security force, was released from a local hospital.
The statement did not say whether the shooting was related to the event.
Authorities said they were worried that the suspects' car could contain an incendiary device. Several nearby businesses were evacuated as a precaution and a bomb squad was on the scene late Sunday night. Police had cordoned off a large area and at least three helicopters circled overhead.
The Associated Press reported that an officer dressed in SWAT gear took the stage toward the end of the event and told attendees that a shooting had occurred.
About 75 attendees were taken to another room. Later, a group of 48 people were escorted to a school bus. Authorities told attendees they would be taken to a nearby high school. A second group was set to be moved shortly after.
The New York-based American Freedom Defense Initiative had been hosting a contest at the center that would award $10,000 for the best cartoon depicting Muhammad.
Such drawings are deemed insulting to many followers of Islam and have sparked violence around the world. According to mainstream Islamic tradition, any physical depiction of Muhammad -- even a respectful one -- is considered blasphemous.
Johnny Roby of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was attending the conference. He told the AP he was outside the building when he heard around about 20 shots that appeared to be coming from the direction of a passing car.
Roby said he then heard two single shots. He said he heard officers yell that they had the car before he was sent inside the building.
Pamela Geller, president of the AFDI, told the AP before Sunday's event that she planned the contest to make a stand for free speech in response to outcries and violence over drawings of Muhammad.
In January, 12 people were killed by gunmen in an attack against the Paris office of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, which had lampooned Islam and other religions and used depictions of Muhammad.
Though it remained unclear several hours after the shooting whether it was related to event, she said Sunday night that the shooting showed how "needed our event really was."
Geller's group is known for mounting a campaign against the building of an Islamic center blocks from the World Trade Center site and for buying advertising space in cities across the U.S. criticizing Islam."
Wonder if this was an attack on the police or an attempted attack on the event. Either way the good guys won!
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/05/03/police-shooting-at-muhammad-cartoon-contest-in-texas/