This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-50701665
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Pensacola attack: Gunman 'played mass-shooting videos at dinner' | Pensacola attack: Gunman 'played mass-shooting videos at dinner' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Saudi gunman who attacked a Florida navy base on Friday played videos of mass shootings at a dinner beforehand, US media reports say. | The Saudi gunman who attacked a Florida navy base on Friday played videos of mass shootings at a dinner beforehand, US media reports say. |
| Mohammed Alshamrani - who was training at the Pensacola base - killed three sailors before being shot dead. | Mohammed Alshamrani - who was training at the Pensacola base - killed three sailors before being shot dead. |
| The US Navy said the sailors "showed exceptional heroism and bravery in the face of evil". | The US Navy said the sailors "showed exceptional heroism and bravery in the face of evil". |
| They were named as Joshua Kaleb Watson, 23, Mohammed Sameh Haitham, 19, and Cameron Scott Walters, 21. | They were named as Joshua Kaleb Watson, 23, Mohammed Sameh Haitham, 19, and Cameron Scott Walters, 21. |
| Several Saudi trainees have reportedly been held for questioning. | Several Saudi trainees have reportedly been held for questioning. |
| Authorities have not alleged that they were involved in the attack, which took place across two floors in a classroom on Friday morning. | Authorities have not alleged that they were involved in the attack, which took place across two floors in a classroom on Friday morning. |
| The gunman played the mass-shooting videos to others at a dinner earlier in the week, several US media outlets report, quoting an anonymous official briefed on the investigation. | The gunman played the mass-shooting videos to others at a dinner earlier in the week, several US media outlets report, quoting an anonymous official briefed on the investigation. |
| A Twitter user appearing to match Alshamrani's identity had also made a series of anti-US posts before the shooting, an online monitoring group says. | A Twitter user appearing to match Alshamrani's identity had also made a series of anti-US posts before the shooting, an online monitoring group says. |
| But US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said on Saturday that he would not label the incident "terrorism" at this point. | But US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said on Saturday that he would not label the incident "terrorism" at this point. |
| Speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum in California, he said investigators must be allowed to do their work. | Speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum in California, he said investigators must be allowed to do their work. |
| President Donald Trump later pledged to review foreign military training programmes in the US. More than 850 Saudi nationals are reported to currently to be in the country for such activities. | |
| The Florida attack was the second shooting to take place at a US military base last week. Two days earlier, a US sailor shot dead two workers at the Pearl Harbor military base in Hawaii. | The Florida attack was the second shooting to take place at a US military base last week. Two days earlier, a US sailor shot dead two workers at the Pearl Harbor military base in Hawaii. |
| What happened on Friday? | What happened on Friday? |
| Authorities were alerted to the shooting at the Pensacola base at 06:51 (12:51 GMT). | Authorities were alerted to the shooting at the Pensacola base at 06:51 (12:51 GMT). |
| It took place across two floors of a classroom building and ended when a sheriff's deputy killed Alshamrani. | It took place across two floors of a classroom building and ended when a sheriff's deputy killed Alshamrani. |
| Eight people were also injured in the shooting, including two officers, who are expected to recover. | Eight people were also injured in the shooting, including two officers, who are expected to recover. |
| Family members of Joshua Kaleb Watson said he was shot several times but made it out of the building to alert first responders. | Family members of Joshua Kaleb Watson said he was shot several times but made it out of the building to alert first responders. |
| On Facebook, his brother Adam Watson wrote: "He died a hero and we are beyond proud but there is a hole in our hearts that can never be filled." | On Facebook, his brother Adam Watson wrote: "He died a hero and we are beyond proud but there is a hole in our hearts that can never be filled." |
| Capt Tim Kinsella, the base's commanding officer, said of the three sailors killed: "When confronted, they didn't run from danger; they ran towards it and saved lives." | Capt Tim Kinsella, the base's commanding officer, said of the three sailors killed: "When confronted, they didn't run from danger; they ran towards it and saved lives." |
| Why were Saudis at the US base? | Why were Saudis at the US base? |
| The Pensacola base has long offered aviation training to foreign military. | The Pensacola base has long offered aviation training to foreign military. |
| Saudi pilots started training at the Pensacola base in 1995, alongside other personnel from Italy, Singapore and Germany. | Saudi pilots started training at the Pensacola base in 1995, alongside other personnel from Italy, Singapore and Germany. |
| Cpt Kinsella Jnr said that about 200 international students were enrolled in programmes there. According to its website, the base employs more than 16,000 military and 7,400 civilian personnel. | Cpt Kinsella Jnr said that about 200 international students were enrolled in programmes there. According to its website, the base employs more than 16,000 military and 7,400 civilian personnel. |
| Alshamrani was a second lieutenant in the Saudi Air Force. | Alshamrani was a second lieutenant in the Saudi Air Force. |
| What has the reaction been? | What has the reaction been? |
| Saudi Arabia is a key US ally in the Middle East and President Trump said the Saudi king called him after the attack to "express his sincere condolences and give his sympathies to the families and friends of the warriors who were killed". | Saudi Arabia is a key US ally in the Middle East and President Trump said the Saudi king called him after the attack to "express his sincere condolences and give his sympathies to the families and friends of the warriors who were killed". |
| Mr Trump said King Salman told him that "this person in no way shape or form represents the feelings of the Saudi people who love the American people". | Mr Trump said King Salman told him that "this person in no way shape or form represents the feelings of the Saudi people who love the American people". |
| The US president later said the Saudi leaders were "devastated" after the attack, adding: "I think they are going to help out the families very greatly." | The US president later said the Saudi leaders were "devastated" after the attack, adding: "I think they are going to help out the families very greatly." |
| Earlier, in the aftermath of the attack, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Saudi Arabia owed "a debt here, given that this was one of their individuals". | Earlier, in the aftermath of the attack, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Saudi Arabia owed "a debt here, given that this was one of their individuals". |
| "There's obviously going to be a lot of questions about this individual being a foreign national, being a part of the Saudi air force and then to be here training on our soil," he said. | "There's obviously going to be a lot of questions about this individual being a foreign national, being a part of the Saudi air force and then to be here training on our soil," he said. |