TheFederalBureauofInvestigationisgatheringinformationaboutthetwomenwhoopenedfireoutsideaneventlastweekendinGarland,Texas.Asecurityofficershotandkilledthegunmen.Theofficerwaswoundedintheattack.
Theshootingtookplacenearabuildingwhereaprivategroupwasholdingacontest.Thegroupoffereda$10,000prizeforthebestdepictionofIslam'sProphetMohammad.ForMuslims,anyimageorrepresentationoftheprophetisconsidereddisrespectful.
TheeventwastheideaofagroupcalledtheAmericanFreedomDefenseInitiative,alsoknownasStoptheIslamizationofAmerica.
Policeinvestigatorssearchedtheareawheretheshootingtookplacethroughthenightandintothemorning.JoeHarniswiththepolicedepartmentinGarland,Texas.HesaidpoliceknowwhathappenedonSunday.
"Twomenexitedthedark-coloredsedan.Bothofthemhadassaultrifles,camearoundthebackofthecarandstartedshootingatthepolicecar.Thepoliceofficerinthatcarbeganreturningfireandstruckbothmen,takingthemdown."
Policeusedarobottoexaminethesuspects'carforexplosives.Theydidnotfindany.
Later,investigatorsidentifiedoneofthedeadmenas31-year-oldEltonSimpson.HewasbornintheUnitedStates.Asayoungman,heacceptedIslam.PolicesayhesharedanapartmentwithNadirSoofi,theothergunman,inPhoenix,Arizona.
CourtdocumentssaythatEltonSimpsonhadbeenunderinvestigationsince2006.Theysayhewastriedandjailedin2010forlyingtoagentsoftheFederalBureauofInvestigation.HewassuspectedofwantingtojoinIslamicextremistsinSomalia.
Federalagentsandpolicesearchedthemen'sapartmenthomeinPhoenix.Beforecarryingouttheattack,SimpsonissaidtohaveprovideddetailsofhisplansonthesocialmediasiteTwitter.
Theshootinghasextendedthedebateaboutfreedomofspeech.Organizersofthecontestdescribeditasafreespeechevent.
Debateaboutfreedomofspeech
PamelaGellerwastheleadorganizeroftheeventinGarland.Shecomparedtheattacktothemurderof12peopleearlierthisyearatParisofficesoftheFrenchweeklyCharlieHebdo.
HergrouphascreatedpublicdebateoveritsopinionsofMuslimsinAmerica.Hersupporterssayshespeaksthetruthaboutatopicpeoplearetoofearfultodiscuss.Hercritics,however,callherabigot.OrenSegaliswiththeAnti-DefamationLeague.ThegroupdescribesitselfonitswebsiteasdedicatedtostoppingthedefamationoftheJewishpeopleandtosecurejusticeandfairtreatmenttoall.
Mr.SegalsaidMs.Geller"isoneoftheleadingAmericananti-Muslimbigots,consistentlyvilifyingMuslimsandtheIslamicfaithundertheguiseofcourseoffightingradicalIslamists."HesaidthatshedoesnotrecognizeadifferencebetweenIslamicextremistsandallMuslims.
Ms.GelleransweredcriticismagainstherinanemailtoVOA.
Shewrotethat,"Itisnotbigotrytostandupforthefreedomofspeechandthefreedomofexpressionagainstthosewhowouldviolentlysuppressit,"shewrote."TheADLapparentlypreferssubmissioninthefaceofviolentthreatstostandingupforthelibertyanddignityoftheindividual."
Thenon-profitSouthernPovertyLawCenterhasalsocondemnedMs.Geller'sgroup.
In2010,theAmericanFreedomDefenseInitiativecampaignedagainstaproposedIslamiccommunitycenterneartheformerWorldTradeCentertowersinNewYorkCity.Terroristswithtiestoal-Qaidadestroyedthetowersin2001.Thecommunitycenterwasneverbuilt.
OnTuesday,theIslamicStatemilitantgroupclaimedresponsibilityfortheattackSunday.TherewasnoimmediatecommentfromU.S.officialsonthegroup'sclaim.
