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Two dead in shooting at Mohammad art contest in Texas

Two men were killed and a security guard was wounded during a shooting that took place outside a contest for cartoon depictions of the Prophet Muhammad held in Garland, Texas Sunday evening.According to NBC News, the attackers drove to the event while it was about to come to an end and opened fire on the security guard, who was wounded in his ankle. According to the Independent they carried automatic rifles. Police at the scene returned fire, killing both assailants. No one else was injured in the shooting. An explosive device was believed to be inside the attacker’s car and a bomb squad robot was sent to check the vehicle, NBC News reported. A SWAT team arrived at the scene and evacuated the convention, taking participants to a safer place, RT reported. The assailants didn’t broadcast their motives for attacking the event before they were killed.An FBI investigation is now underway.The New York-based American Freedom Defense Initiative, led by conservative anti-Sharia activist Pamela Gellar, was hosting a contest with a prize of US$10,000 for the best cartoon depicting Muhammad.Drawings of the Prophet Muhammad are considered offensive to many followers of Islam. According to Islamic tradition, any physical depiction of the prophet, even respectful ones, are considered blasphemous.