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Pensacola attack: US to review screening of foreign military Pensacola attack is presumed terrorism - FBI
(about 2 hours later)
US Defence Secretary Mark Esper has ordered a review of the screening process for foreign military in the US after a Saudi soldier launched a deadly attack at a Florida navy base. The FBI says it is treating Friday's deadly attack on a Florida navy base as a presumed terrorist attack.
The gunman - who was training at the Pensacola site - killed three sailors on Friday. The Saudi gunman - who was training at the Pensacola site - killed three sailors before he was shot dead.
Mr Esper told Fox News Sunday he had instructed top defence officials to look into security measures at bases. Special agent Rachel Rojas said the FBI was trying to determine if he had acted alone or had connections to a group.
President Donald Trump has also pledged to review foreign military programmes. She said other Saudi students had had been questioned but not arrested. They were reportedly confined to the base, co-operating with investigators.
The victims of the attack have been named as Joshua Kaleb Watson, 23, Mohammed Sameh Haitham, 19, and Cameron Scott Walters, 21.The victims of the attack have been named as Joshua Kaleb Watson, 23, Mohammed Sameh Haitham, 19, and Cameron Scott Walters, 21.
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".
Who has been detained? In Sunday's press conference, Ms Rojas gave almost no details of the investigation's findings so far.
Several Saudi trainees have reportedly been held for questioning, though so far there has been no claim that they were involved in the attack. However, she did say that the gunman, 21-year-old Mohammed Alshamrani, bought his weapon legally in the US. It was a 9mm handgun.
The gunman, 21-year-old Mohammed Alshamrani, was shot dead at the scene. A Twitter user appearing to match Alshamrani's identity made a series of anti-US posts before the shooting, an online monitoring group says.
Alshamrani had played 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. It has also been reported in US media that Alshamrani played mass-shooting videos to others at a dinner earlier in the week, according to 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.
Speaking to Fox News Sunday, Mr Esper confirmed reports that one or two of the detained Saudis filmed the attack. "What is unclear is - were they filming it before it began or was it something where they picked up their phones once they saw it unfolding?" he said.
He previously said he would not label the incident "terrorism" while the investigation was in its early stages.
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 forces.The Pensacola base has long offered aviation training to foreign military forces.
Saudi pilots started training there in 1995, alongside other personnel from Italy, Singapore and Germany.Saudi pilots started training there 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.
Earlier US Defence Secretary Mark Esper ordered a review of the screening process for foreign military in the US.
Mr Esper told Fox News Sunday he had instructed top defence officials to look into security measures at bases.
President Donald Trump has also pledged to review foreign military programmes.
What happened on Friday?What happened on Friday?
Authorities were alerted to the shooting at the Pensacola base at 06:51 (11:51 GMT).Authorities were alerted to the shooting at the Pensacola base at 06:51 (11:51 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."
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".
Questions over the US-Saudi relationshipQuestions over the US-Saudi relationship
Just as he did in the wake of the murder of the dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in his country's consulate in Istanbul, President Trump is seeking to play down the significance of the Pensacola shooting.Just as he did in the wake of the murder of the dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in his country's consulate in Istanbul, President Trump is seeking to play down the significance of the Pensacola shooting.
For a president who largely sees foreign policy in transactional terms, Saudi Arabia is a great customer for the US. Billions of dollars in weapons sales translates into more than 5,500 temporary visas being issued to the Saudi military to come to the US. Saudi personnel make up about 16% of the foreign personnel being trained at US military schools and other facilities. The Pensacola shooting is already raising questions about the vetting of these individuals.For a president who largely sees foreign policy in transactional terms, Saudi Arabia is a great customer for the US. Billions of dollars in weapons sales translates into more than 5,500 temporary visas being issued to the Saudi military to come to the US. Saudi personnel make up about 16% of the foreign personnel being trained at US military schools and other facilities. The Pensacola shooting is already raising questions about the vetting of these individuals.
But more broadly it once again highlights the long-standing relationship between Washington and Riyadh - a relationship that many critics in Congress see as increasingly dubious in the wake of the Khashoggi murder and the Saudi military onslaught in Yemen.But more broadly it once again highlights the long-standing relationship between Washington and Riyadh - a relationship that many critics in Congress see as increasingly dubious in the wake of the Khashoggi murder and the Saudi military onslaught in Yemen.