US base shooter had 'significant ties' to al-Qaeda

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The Saudi military officer who fatally shot three US sailors and seriously injured eight other individuals on a military base in Florida had "significant ties" to al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), top law enforcement officials announced Monday.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said information obtained from Royal Saudi Air Force officer Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani's cellphones indicates he was radicalized at least as far back as 2015.

Alshamrani attempted to destroy both of his phones during a shootout that ultimately led to his death, Wray said, but the bureau was able to obtain information off them following a four month effort to unlock the devices.That information was then used to carry out an operation against one of his associates.

Wray and Attorney General William Barr said the operation targeted AQAP operative Abdullah al-Maliki, but gave sparse details other than saying it took place recently in Yemen.