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Navy Releases Report On NAS Pensacola Shooting, Says Shooter ‘Self-Radicalized’ In ‘Toxic’ Climate
November 24, 2020
The U.S. Navy has released their investigative report into the deadline December 2019 terrorist attack at NAS Pensacola.
An armed Lt. Mohammad Saeed Al-Shamrani, an international flight student from Saudi Arabia, entered the Naval Aviation Schools Command building about 6:40 a.m. He killed three sailors and injured five additional military and civilian personnel.
Al-Shamrani was shot and killed by an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy.
Ensign Joshua K. Watson, Airman Mohammed S. Haitham and Airman Apprentice Cameron S. Walters were dead.
The 260 page report found “the self-radicalization of 2nd Lt. Al-Shamrani was the primary cause of this fatal attack. However, his actions and behaviors, along with the organizational environment inherent in the aviation pipeline, likely increased his probability of committing an insider attack.”
“Military leaders, government employees, contracted employees, peers and civilians knew of isolated events and indicators, but all remained unaware of a complete picture of 2nd Lt. Al-Shamrani’s potential threat indicators,” the report states. “Based upon the information available at the time, no one person or organization knew or could have known 2nd Lt. Al-Shamrani would attack active duty service members and civilians.”
An instructor at Training Wing 6 witnessed Al-Shamrani applying to purchase a gun used in the attack, the report states. The purchase of the gun was legal, but Al-Shamrani violated Navy regulations for International Military Students (IMS). The report continues that the instructor did not report the incident because he was unaware of the policy violation.
The investigation found there was “an adverse microclimate for all students as NASC”, and international students were subjected to “derogatory and sometimes abusive comments as well as humiliating public reprimands.” Military and civilian leaders aware of the complaints did not take steps to correct the toxic climate, investigators found.
“In addition, 2nd Lt. Al-Shamrani likely faced additional personal and professional stressors due to a language barrier, cultural differences, and the rigor of high-risk aviation training and academics,” the report states. “Mitigating these individual risk factors may not have stopped 2nd Lt. Al-Shamrani from evolving into a hostile insider threat, yet they may have lessened his cumulative load of stress, pressure and anger.”
But the stress triggers were not unique to Al-Shamrani.
“In the absence of proactive leadership, positive command climates and personalized risk management, they may also apply equally to our own Sailors and civilian personnel,” the report states.
The report found that “current technology is unable to effectively monitor social media”, such as the jihadist, anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli rhetoric found on Al-Shamrani’s social media accounts.
Pictured top: The scene outside Building 633 as law enforcement responds to a terrorist attack on December 6, 2019. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo.
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20 Responses to “Navy Releases Report On NAS Pensacola Shooting, Says Shooter ‘Self-Radicalized’ In ‘Toxic’ Climate”
An instructor at Training Wing 6 witnessed Al-Shamrani applying to purchase a gun used in the attack, the report states. The purchase of the gun was legal, but Al-Shamrani violated Navy regulations for International Military Students (IMS). The report continues that the instructor did not report the incident because he was unaware of the policy violation. HOW DID HE NOT KNOW IT WASA POLICY VIOLATION? This makes me very angry. “See something, say something” and he did NOTHING
When we train terrorists this is the result.
And one more thing. What the report is really saying is that there is systemic racism at PNAS,
that’s the narrative of the day, and the narrative here. That racism exists in the training structure of the base, which is a lie. The student was full of hate, racism is the excuse. We learned nothing from 9/11
And yet, these foreign nationals are still training there. Its foolish to think there aren’t others with his mindset training there. We learned nothing from 9/11.
@good grief, that was my thought yesterday morning when I read this at 4am–am I reading this right? Did Mueller write this report too? This guy didn’t have a stress problem, he had a hate problem.
When you go to someone’s house, you abide by their rules. When you come to OUR country, you abide by OUR rules. We’re on the verge of losing life as we know it because others want to change us.
Most conservatives do not understand what “political correctness” means. You have every right to say anything you wish. A good person knows when to keep their mouth shut.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.
Vote of no confidence to the commander, facilities falling apart. Lack of care and concerned from the highest levels of navy command. From the cradle of naval aviation to a soft target to our enemies at home and abroad. Remember the great men and woman in uniform today and then, they are the ones who protect us and the world from radicals. They are the beacon of freedoms and democracy for the world and we all citizens of this country to follow.
I wonder if the full report considers the “toxicity” of the culture from which he came.
This is not a “slap in the face to all aviators” it’s one guy who couldn’t handle the pressure. It wasn’t a conspiracy it wasn’t a terrorist attack it was an individual in a high stress situation that overwhelmed him. He should not have been there. Obviously this points to a glaring problem within our military in regards to training foreign students.
@Jim great points that first and second are just great common sense.
If political correctness is the new trend in military training I would think we are going to pay for it adversely in the long run. When I was in basic training in 1960, I was called everything except a member of the church. I made it OK, really enjoyed that period of my life. I went on and made a relative success out of my life…oh well.
If the Navy investigators came to a conclusion..it was a whole lot more education and higher I.Q. than all of these nasty comments that people post here.
But you guys are too focused on yourselves than the educated findings.
Grow up!!!
These “findings” are a slap in the face to every single aviator who has successfully completed the rigors of military flight training.
key words Saudi Arabia. the U.S. allowed Saudis to train for the 911 attacks in this country. it is now and always has been about OIL.
So, lessons learned?
• If we have agreements to train military of with countries known to have historical cultural enmity toward the west , then conduct that training on their soil and in their facilities.
• The rights under the US Constitution pertain to US citizens. A foreign student in the US temporarily should not be allowed to purchase firearms.
• Every foreign student should be vetted as thoroughly as American military members.
These items may not prevent these awful attacks from happening, but it would go along way toward reducing their likelihood, as well as protecting local communities.
Life and school is just too hard. If everybody would just hold hands and sing Barneys I love you, you love me. This wouldn’t happen. It’s not his fault he killed innocent people.
Wish I could grow a “porn-stache”… You do too
To quote the words of a famous TV colonel: “Horse hockey”!
So issue “stress cards” to the self-radicalized and shootings won’t be a problem!
(I need a sarcasm font)
Blamed it on everybody but the shooter. Same old Stuff.
So basically he was in a stressful situation and it wasn’t his fault???? Am I reading it right??? Honestly, someone help me if I’m reading it wrong.