Saudi King condemns shooting by a Saudi national at Florida Naval Air Base
The King of Saudi Arabia – Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has condemned the attack carried out by a Saudi national on Friday, December 6, 2019, at the Naval Air Station at Pensacola in Florida, which killed 4 people and left 12 injured.
The gunman – Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, had visited the United States (U.S.) for military training when he opened fire at the Naval Air Station. He was immediately killed by the Sheriff’s Deputies. The motive of the attack is still under investigation. The Naval Air Station has been locked down for security reasons.
The King of Saudi Arabia called-up the President of U.S. – Donald Trump to condemn the attack and offer his condolences to the family of the deceased people.
Taking it to twitter, Trump tweeted, “King Salman of Saudi Arabia just called to express his sincere condolences and give his sympathies to the families and friends of the warriors who were killed and wounded in the attack that took place in Pensacola, Florida”.
King Salman of Saudi Arabia just called to express his sincere condolences and give his sympathies to the families and friends of the warriors who were killed and wounded in the attack that took place in Pensacola, Florida….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 6, 2019
He further tweeted, “The King said that the Saudi people are greatly angered by the barbaric actions of the shooter, and that this person in no way shape or form represents the feelings of the Saudi people who love the American people.”
….The King said that the Saudi people are greatly angered by the barbaric actions of the shooter, and that this person in no way shape or form represents the feelings of the Saudi people who love the American people.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 6, 2019
Prior to this, Trump extended his prayers to the family of the victims in a tweet, which read, “Just received a full briefing on the tragic shooting at NAS Pensacola in Florida and spoke to @GovRonDeSantis. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this difficult time. We are continuing to monitor the situation as the investigation is ongoing.”
Just received a full briefing on the tragic shooting at NAS Pensacola in Florida, and spoke to @GovRonDeSantis. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this difficult time. We are continuing to monitor the situation as the investigation is ongoing.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 6, 2019
Speaking about the shooting, the Governor of Florida – Ron DeSantis said, “There is 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 added, “The government of Saudi Arabia needs to make things better for these victims. They are going to owe a debt here, given that this was one of their individuals.”
Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani was a second lieutenant in the Saudi Air Force in training at the site. He started his training in August 2017 as part of a 3 years program. He was taking classes in basic aviation, initial pilot training and English. There are reports that he posted an online manifesto before the attack, but this is yet to be confirmed.
Saudi Arabia is a key U.S. ally in the Middle East and the two countries have longstanding military exchange programmes. A delegation of 18 naval aviators and 2 aircrew members from the Royal Saudi Naval Forces had come to U.S. for training and were getting trained at Pensacola. It is not clear if the said shooter was a part of that delegation. The delegation had come under a Navy programme, ‘Naval Education and Training Security Assistance Field Activity’, that offers training to U.S. allies.
The Pensacola base, which is near Florida’s border with Alabama, is a major training site for the Navy and home to its aerobatic flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels. The base employs about 16,000 military and 7,400 civilian personnel. Military personnel from around the globe visit the base for flight training.
For the records, there have been incidents of mass shooting at U.S. military bases earlier also. In 2009, an attack in Ford Hood, Texas left 13 dead. Besides, 12 people were killed in a similar attack at Washington Navy Yard in 2013. Recently on December 4, 2019, a sailor had shot 3 civilians at the historic Pearl Harbour Military Base in Hawaii, killing 2 of them before taking his own life.
