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IS Threatens Dallas Cartoon Contest Organiser

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The Islamic State terror group has reportedly posted an online threat against the organiser of a cartoon contest in Texas where images of the Prophet Mohammed were on display.

Blogger Pamela Geller organised the event at the weekend in Garland, Dallas, where two men were shot dead by police after they opened fire with assault rifles outside the Curtis Culwell Center.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) said it was assessing the threat, which names Ms Geller, who lives in Manhattan.

Spokesman Stephen Davis said investigators from counter-terrorism and intelligence bureaus met her on Wednesday and will carry out a "comprehensive threat assessment" to decide whether the threat is credible enough to require security measures.

Mr Davis did not comment on the specific nature of the threat.

The threat claims IS has "71 trained soldiers" in the US in 15 states "ready at our word to attack any target we desire".

It names Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, California and Michigan as states where it has agents.

It says: "The attack by the Islamic State in America is only the beginning of our efforts to establish a wiliyah [authority] in the heart of our enemy.

"Our aim was the khanzeer [pig] Pamela Geller and to show that we don't care what land she hides in or what sky shields her; we will send all our Lions to achieve her slaughter.

"To those who protect her: this will be your only warning of housing this woman and her circus show.

"Everyone who houses her events, gives her a platform to spill her filth are legitimate targets."

The New York Daily News reported that Ms Geller has hired a private security team after the threat.

The 56-year-old is president of the American Freedom Defense Initiative.

IS claimed responsibility for the Dallas attack, in which roommates Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi were shot dead after wounding a security guard outside the event.

An audio statement on the extremist group's al Bayan radio station on Tuesday claimed "two soldiers of the caliphate" had carried out the attack.

It is the first time IS has claimed responsibility for an attack in the US, though the White House said it was too early to say whether the group had any role.

Government officials have said investigators were looking through the suspects' electronic communications for any evidence of contact with overseas militants.

The US State Department offered rewards totalling $20m (£13.2m) for information on "key leaders" of Islamic State - Abd al Rahman Mustafa al Qaduli, Abu Mohammed al Adnani, Tarkhan Tayumurazovich Batirashvili and Tariq Bin al Tahar Bin al Falih al Awni al Harzi.