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==Background== |
==Background== |
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The [[Stop Islamization of America|American Freedom Defense Initiative]] (AFDI) is a group set up by [[Pamela Geller]] and [[Robert Spencer]] in 2010, which protested the [[Park51]] project two blocks from the [[World Trade Center site]]. AFDI hosted the Muhammad Cartoon Exhibit and $10,000 cartoon contest.<ref name="npr">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/05/03/404064326/two-armed-men-killed-after-shooting-outside-muhammad-cartoon-contest|title=Two Armed Men Killed After Shooting Outside Muhammad Cartoon Contest : The Two-Way : NPR|publisher=npr.org|accessdate=May 4, 2015}}</ref> The event featured speeches by Pamela Geller, president of the AFDI, and [[Geert Wilders]], a Dutch lawmaker known for his outspoken criticism of Islam. The event was motivated by [[Charlie Hebdo shooting|the terrorist attack]] on the [[satirical magazine]] ''[[Charlie Hebdo]]'' nearly four months ago and is the first of a planned annual contest. The winner in 2015 was an ex-Muslim, Bosch Fawstin, who will collect the award of $12,500.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://dailycaller.com/2015/05/03/breaking-shooting-in-texas-outside-of-muslim-cartoon-event-attended-by-geert-wilders/|newspaper=Daily Caller|title=Shooting in Texas Outside of Muslim Cartoon Event|author=Chuck Ross|date=4 May 2015}}</ref> |
The [[Stop Islamization of America|American Freedom Defense Initiative]] (AFDI) is a group set up by [[Pamela Geller]] and [[Robert Spencer]] in 2010, which protested the [[Park51]] project two blocks from the [[World Trade Center site]]. AFDI hosted the Muhammad Cartoon Exhibit and $10,000 cartoon contest. The AFDI, as the organization is also known, is listed by the [[Southern Poverty Law Center]] as an anti-Muslim [[hate group]].<ref name="npr">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/05/03/404064326/two-armed-men-killed-after-shooting-outside-muhammad-cartoon-contest|title=Two Armed Men Killed After Shooting Outside Muhammad Cartoon Contest : The Two-Way : NPR|publisher=npr.org|accessdate=May 4, 2015}}</ref> The event featured speeches by Pamela Geller, president of the AFDI, and [[Geert Wilders]], a Dutch lawmaker known for his outspoken criticism of Islam. The event was motivated by [[Charlie Hebdo shooting|the terrorist attack]] on the [[satirical magazine]] ''[[Charlie Hebdo]]'' nearly four months ago and is the first of a planned annual contest. The winner in 2015 was an ex-Muslim, Bosch Fawstin, who will collect the award of $12,500.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://dailycaller.com/2015/05/03/breaking-shooting-in-texas-outside-of-muslim-cartoon-event-attended-by-geert-wilders/|newspaper=Daily Caller|title=Shooting in Texas Outside of Muslim Cartoon Event|author=Chuck Ross|date=4 May 2015}}</ref> |
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The event was hosted at the [[Curtis Culwell Center]], rented from the [[Garland Independent School District]], which hosted a fundraiser in January called "Stand with the Prophet".<ref name="wash_‘Sta">{{Cite web |
The event was hosted at the [[Curtis Culwell Center]], rented from the [[Garland Independent School District]], which hosted a fundraiser in January called "Stand with the Prophet".<ref name="wash_‘Sta">{{Cite web |
Revision as of 20:04, 4 May 2015
Curtis Culwell Center attack | |
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![]() Curtis Culwell Center | |
Location | Garland, Texas |
Coordinates | 32°57′34″N 96°38′31″W / 32.95956°N 96.64191°W |
Date | May 3, 2015 |
Deaths | 2 (both perpetrators) |
Injured | 1 |
On May 3, 2015, two gunmen opened fire outside the Curtis Culwell Center during an art exhibit in Garland, Texas.[1] The center was hosting a contest for cartoons depicting the Muslim prophet Muhammad. Both suspects were killed by police.[2] A Garland school district police officer was injured by a shot to the leg,[3] and was released from hospital.[4]
Background
The American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI) is a group set up by Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer in 2010, which protested the Park51 project two blocks from the World Trade Center site. AFDI hosted the Muhammad Cartoon Exhibit and $10,000 cartoon contest. The AFDI, as the organization is also known, is listed by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an anti-Muslim hate group.[5] The event featured speeches by Pamela Geller, president of the AFDI, and Geert Wilders, a Dutch lawmaker known for his outspoken criticism of Islam. The event was motivated by the terrorist attack on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo nearly four months ago and is the first of a planned annual contest. The winner in 2015 was an ex-Muslim, Bosch Fawstin, who will collect the award of $12,500.[6]
The event was hosted at the Curtis Culwell Center, rented from the Garland Independent School District, which hosted a fundraiser in January called "Stand with the Prophet".[7] Pamela Geller spearheaded about 1,000 picketers at that event.[8]
Attack
The organizers of the event paid over $10,000 to off-duty police officers and private security guards. The FBI, a SWAT team and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were all ready in case of any incidents.[3]
Just before the event was beginning to let out, two men pulled up in a vehicle and shot a Garland ISD Security guard outside the building. The men were then shot and killed by Garland police.[9] The Garland ISD officer, identified as Bruce Joiner, was shot in the lower leg and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.[10]
Authorities 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. Police had cordoned off a large area and at least three helicopters circled overhead.[11] An officer dressed in SWAT gear took the stage toward the end of the event and told attendees that a shooting had occurred. He said one officer and two suspects were shot.[12]
Perpetrators
One of the perpetrators was identified as Elton Simpson, who was from Phoenix, Arizona. He was the subject of an FBI investigation in 2006, and was sentenced to three years of probation and a $600 fine in 2011 after lying to the FBI about his plans to travel to Somalia.[3] The second perpetrator, also from Phoenix, has yet to be identified, though he has been described as Simpson's roommate.[13][14][15]
See also
- Charlie Hebdo shooting
- 2015 Copenhagen shootings
- 2011 Gothenburg terrorism plot (targeting cartoonist Lars Vilks)
References
- ^ "BREAKING: Shooting At Muhammad Art Exhibit In Garland « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth". dfw.cbslocal.com. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ "Police kill 2 men who opened fire outside Muhammad art show in Garland | Dallas Morning News". dallasnews.com. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Police raid home of gunman in Mohammad cartoon attack in Texas". Reuters. May 4, 2015.
- ^ Gerardo Martinez (May 3, 2015). "2 dead after gunfire outside Muhammad cartoon exhibit in Garland - KYTX CBS19.tv - News, Weather, & Sports | Tyler-Longview". cbs19.tv. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ "Two Armed Men Killed After Shooting Outside Muhammad Cartoon Contest : The Two-Way : NPR". npr.org. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ Chuck Ross (May 4, 2015). "Shooting in Texas Outside of Muslim Cartoon Event". Daily Caller.
- ^ Chasmar, Jessica (January 18, 2015). "'Stand With Prophet' event in Texas draws thousands of protesters". The Washingtion Times. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ Merchant, Nomaan; Stengle, Jamie (May 3, 2015). "City: 2 gunmen killed outside Muhammad cartoon contest". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ "Garland ISD Officer Injured, 2 Dead in Shooting Outside Culwell Center in Garland | NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth". nbcdfw.com. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ "2 gunmen shot dead outside Muhammad Art Exhibit in Garland". wfaa.com. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ "Two suspects killed, officer injured after shooting outside Muhammad cartoon contest in Texas | Fox News". foxnews.com. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ "Report: gunfire erupts outside Texas anti-Islam event | fox4kc.com". fox4kc.com. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ "American terror suspect ID'd in Texas attack - NL Times". NL Times.
- ^ Tom Cleary. "Elton Simpson: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com.
- ^ "Official: One of Texas Shooting Suspects IDed". Yahoo! News GMA. May 4, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.