Doubts raised about Islamic State's claim in Texas attack

Officials: Two men may have been 'lone-wolf' attackers

Joseph Offutt, 20, holds a U.S. flag across the street from the Curtis Culwell Center Tuesday in Garland, Texas. A man whose social media presence was being scrutinized by federal authorities was one of two suspects in the Sunday shooting at this location that hosted a cartoon contest featuring images of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad. The Islamic State group on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the attack. - photo by Associated Press

Prophet Cartoon Conte Heal 2 — Joseph Offutt, 20, holds a U.S. flag across the street from the Curtis Culwell Center Tuesday in Garland, Texas. A man whose social media presence was being scrutinized by federal authorities was one of two suspects in the Sunday shooting at this location that hosted a cartoon contest featuring images of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad. The Islamic State group on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the attack. - photo by Associated Press

PHOENIX — The Islamic State group claimed responsibility Tuesday for the assault on a Texas cartoon contest that featured images of the Prophet Muhammad, but counterterrorism experts said IS has a history of asserting involvement in attacks in which it had no operational role. That suggests the two gunmen could have carried out their own lone wolf-style strike before they were shot and killed at the scene of Sunday's shooting in the Dallas suburb of Garland. Federal officials identified the pair as Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi, both Americans who lived in Phoenix.

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