ISIS claim responsibility for shooting at Texas Muhammad cartoon contest

ISIS claim responsibility for shooting at Texas Muhammad cartoon contest

The Islamic State terror group (ISIS) Tuesday issued a claim of responsibility for Sunday's attack on a Texas cartoon contest featuring images of the Muslim prophet Muhammad.

   The claim was made in an audio message on the group's Al Bayan radio station, based in the Syria city of Raqqa, which ISIS has proclaimed to be the capital of its self-proclaimed caliphate. It is the first time ISIS has taken credit for an attack on U.S. soil, though it was not immediately clear whether the group's claim was an opportunistic co-opting of a so-called "lone wolf" attack as its own.

An investigation following the attack revealed a striking connection between at least one of the gunmen and a Twitter account based overseas, suggesting that ISIS operatives had knowledge of the attack beforehand and that the same fighters encouraged the shooters, a counterterrorism source told Fox News.

One British-based jihadi in Syria who does not tweet on a regular basis sent out a message within an hour of the attack, praising both men.

Another established ISIS Twitter account suggested he had been in contact with one of the gunmen just prior to the attack, using messages such as he tried to reach him but just missed him. The source said the social media appeared to show encouragement and mentoring.

The contest had been expected to draw outrage from the Muslim community. According to mainstream Islamic tradition, any physical depiction of Muhammad — even a respectful one — is considered blasphemous, and drawings similar to those featured at the Texas event have sparked violence around the world.

Authorities say the suspects, identified as Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi, drove up to the building where the contest was being held in the Dallas suburb of Garland and opened fire. An unarmed school district security guard was wounded before a Garland police officer returned fire and killed both men.

Lucy Hawking: Stephen Hawking's daughter writes impassioned open letter to Katie Hopkins about rights of disabled people

Lucy Hawking, the author and daughter of acclaimed physicist Stephen, has written an emotional open letter to Katie Hopkins.

The Sun columnist was urged to reconsider her attitude towards disabled people after Hopkins described Labour leader Ed Miliband as looking like someone "on the spectrum".

Writing in the Guardian, Hawking said: "I hoped that now, no disabled person would encounter this kind of behaviour – and that they would be treated with respect and dignity."

Hawking's father has motor neurone disease, which has left him wheelchair bound and only able to speak via a computer.

She went on: "I have an autistic son. He’s very sweet, polite, hard-working, kind and generally lovely. But yes, he does stare at people from time to time.

"When we are on the tube, occasionally I have to say to a member of the public that my son is autistic and that I’m sorry he is staring. The reaction is always kind and compassionate."

Accusing Hopkins of making a "laughing stock" out of anybody not exactly like herself, Hawking asked her to "please stop". 

Lucy Hawking, the author and daughter of acclaimed physicist Stephen, has written an emotional open letter to Katie Hopkins.

The Sun columnist was urged to reconsider her attitude towards disabled people after Hopkins described Labour leader Ed Miliband as looking like someone "on the spectrum".

Writing in the Guardian, Hawking said: "I hoped that now, no disabled person would encounter this kind of behaviour – and that they would be treated with respect and dignity."

Hawking's father has motor neurone disease, which has left him wheelchair bound and only able to speak via a computer. However, this wasn't the only reason Hawking was standing up for the rights of disabled people.