MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) -- The controversial Dutch politician invited to deliver the keynote address at the Garland, Texas, event targeted by terrorists on Sunday is no stranger to Middle Tennessee.
Geert Wilders is well-known in Europe and the U.S. for his anti-Muslim rhetoric. He has reportedly been on Al Queida’s hit list for years.
In 2011, Wilder’s spoke at a Franklin 9-11 event hosted by the conservative Tennessee Freedom Coalition. An invitation to a meet-and-greet with Wilders prior to his speech can still be found on the Williamson County Republican Party website. The media were not permitted to attend.
Just this past week, Wilders posted a video telling migrants considering making the treacherous boat crossing from North Africa to Europe: "You will not make the Netherlands home."
ABC News cites a senior FBI official in reporting Monday morning that one of the Garland gunmen, a resident of Phoenix, was known to authorities and was the subject of an investigation. The ABC report says the man was convicted five years ago of lying to federal agents about plans to travel to Africa, in an apparent attempt to join a terror group there.