Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to handle the lethal Austin taking pictures, warn of potential sleeper cells and sound the alarm on border-related safety threats.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott warned that Iranian “sleeper cells” working inside america pose a severe menace following Operation Epic Fury, saying the hazard have to be taken “critically” because the Lone Star State ramps up safety efforts.
“You oftentimes see when there is a warfare breaking out like this, the place america could also be going towards a rustic like Iran, that you may have both sleeper [cells] or lone wolves appearing,” Abbott advised “Mornings with Maria” on Monday.
“That is precisely why we elevated the variety of Texas Division of Public Security officers to be patrolling the streets and patrolling delicate areas and why I deployed the Texas Nationwide Guard to do the identical factor,” he mentioned.
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks throughout a information convention with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on the Texas Capitol in Austin on Aug. 15, 2025. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman through Getty Photos / Getty Photos)
Heightened tensions adopted a lethal taking pictures in Austin early Sunday, when suspect Ndiaga Diagne, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Senegal, opened hearth close to a bar within the downtown space, killing two and injuring 14 others.
Diagne wore a sweater studying “PROPERTY OF ALLAH” throughout the assault.
In keeping with media experiences, legislation enforcement officers discovered the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran and photographs of its leaders in his house.
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A demonstrator holding portrait of Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reacts outdoors the Metropolis Corridor throughout a protest towards U.S. and Israeli assaults on a number of cities throughout Iran on February 28, 2026, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Qian Weizhong/VCG/Getty Photos / Getty Photos)
“There are different particulars that might be popping out in regards to the shooter and his connections to terrorism that may clarify [that] this was a lone wolf exercise the place this shooter meant to wreak havoc right here in Texas, right here in america, due to his ties and sympathies with Iran,” Abbott mentioned.
Abbott and different Republicans have lengthy cautioned towards the implications of open borders below the Biden administration. He echoed these warnings throughout his FOX Enterprise look, telling Maria Bartiromo the taking pictures raises different questions.
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President Donald Trump addresses the American individuals following strikes by the U.S. and Israel on Iran.
“It calls into query lots of people like that who’re right here within the United Sates, who got here from different international locations,” he mentioned.
“The USA has to do a much better job in attempting to vet and… ongoingly consider those that have come to our nation who may pose a hazard.”
Fox Information Digital’s Asra Q. Nomani contributed to this report.
