FBI crime scene investigators document the area around two deceased gunmen and their vehicle outside the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas. ISIL takes credit for Texas shooting

The Islamic State says it is responsible for the attack that occurred outside a contest to draw the prophet Muhammad on Sunday night in the Dallas suburb of Garland, Texas, according to reports.

The terror group said in a broadcast on the website of its radio station Tuesday that two of its soldiers did the shooting outside of the Curtis Culwell Center, referring to the two gunmen, who have been identified as Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi, as “brothers.”


“We say to the defenders of the cross, the U.S., that future attacks are going to be harsher and worse. The Islamic State soldiers will inflict harm on you with the grace of God. The future is just around the corner,” the broadcast said, according to CNN.

It would be the first time ISIL has taken credit for an attack on American soil, though U.S. officials have not verified the group’s claim.

The White House said Tuesday that the investigation is ongoing and that it remains too early to definitively link the gunmen to ISIL or any other terrorist organization.

“The thing that we can say definitively is that because of the quick and professional and brave work of local law-enforcement officers, an attempted terrorist attack was foiled,” press secretary Josh Earnest said.

Law enforcement officials in Texas have said that both it and the Garland Independent School District made security preparations for the event. According to Garland Police Officer Joe Harn, Garland ISD spent an additional $10,000 on security, including FBI and ATF agents, bomb personnel and SWAT personnel.

Officers praised Bruce Joiner, a security officer with the Garland ISD, for quickly shooting and killing the gunmen and preventing events from further escalating.

“There is no expression, however offensive, that justifies an act of terrorism or even an act of violence and that apparently is what these two individuals in Texas were trying to do,” Earnest said.