Islamic State claims Las Vegas shooting, but FBI says no link to group found

CAIRO — The Islamic State terror group on Monday claimed one of its members carried out a deadly Las Vegas shooting attack and said the shooter converted to Islam months ago, but the claim was quickly dismissed by US officials.

The assertion, made via the IS propaganda agency, included no evidence to back up the claim about Stephen Paddock, 64, identified as the gunman who opened fire on crowds at a Las Vegas country music fair killing over 50 and injuring over 400.

Islamic State’s Amaq propaganda arm said Paddock, 64, was one of its “soldiers” who converted to Islam months ago, the Site Intelligence Group reported.

It released two brief statements hours after the shooting that did not name the suspected shooter, but said he had “executed the operation in response to calls to target countries of the coalition” battling the extremist group in Iraq and Syria. The group later released a Spanish language version.

Shortly after the claim, the FBI said there it had not seen any connection between Paddock and any international terror group.

FBI on ISIS statement: "We have determined to this point no connection with an international terrorist group."

— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) October 2, 2017

The IS group often claims attacks by individuals it says are inspired by its message but with no known links to the group.

Country music star Jason Aldean was performing Sunday night at the end of the three-day Route 91 Harvest Festival when Paddock fired across the street from inside the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.

SWAT teams quickly descended on the concert and the casino, and officers used explosives to get into the hotel room where they found the suspect dead inside, apparently of a self-inflicted wound, authorities said.

The Islamic State group, which brutally imposed a self-proclaimed caliphate in areas it seized during fighting in Syria and Iraq over the past few years, has claimed responsibility for a string of terror attacks around the world including many in Western countries.

In many of the incidents those who carried out the attacks were known to have sworn allegiance to the terror group, but the group has also made dubious claims to try and bolster its public image as the group loses territory in Syria and Iraq.

Officials have not issued any suspected motive for the attack and Paddock’s brother Eric Paddock told media he was “just a guy,” who did not have any ties to religious or militant groups.

Eric Paddock told CBS News his brother was “not an avid gun guy at all.”

“Where the hell did he get automatic weapons? He has no military background or anything like that,” he said. “He’s a guy who lived in a house in Mesquite, drove down and gambled in Las Vegas. He did stuff. Eat burritos.”

The gunman, who photographs showed as graying with a trimmed beard and mustache, was a former accountant and a licensed pilot with no criminal record, according to ABC News.

At least 10 weapons, including a number of long rifles, were recovered in his hotel room.

Paddock, 64, had been living in Mesquite, Nevada, some 80 miles from Las Vegas. His roommate, 62-year-old Marilou Danley, has reportedly been located in the Philippines.

Security officials earlier said Paddock appeared to have been working alone.