State Watch Texas Gov. Abbott warns Iranian ‘sleeper cells’ must be taken ‘seriously’ by Ashleigh Fields - 03/02/26 11:12 PM ET by Ashleigh Fields - 03/02/26 11:12 PM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email NOW PLAYING Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Monday warned that the possibility of Iranian “ sleeper cells ” is being “seriously” evaluated in the Lone Star state. Sleeper cells are foreign actors who live under the radar until called on to carry out a mission or attack.  In Texas, federal authorities are investigating a Sunday shooting in Austin as a potential terrorist attack.  The alleged perpetrator shot and killed two people and injured 14 others. He was wearing clothing with the phrase “Property of Allah” printed on it and featured an Iranian flag design. “Early that morning, on Saturday morning, we made clear to the public that the state of Texas is taking seriously the possibility of terrorist activity, lone wolf, lone wolf activity,” Abbott said during a Monday appearance on Fox Business’s “ Mornings with Maria .”  “Exactly what happened here in Austin, Texas, and you oftentimes see when there’s a war breaking out like this, where the United States may be going against a country like Iran, that you could have either sleeper cells or lone wolfs acting, and that’s exactly why we increase the number of Texas Department of Public Safety Officers should be patrolling the streets and patrolling sensitive areas, and why deployed the Texas National Guard to do the same thing, so that we could be as prepared as possible for things like this happening,” he added. The Texas governor added that Sunday’s attack was intended to “wreak havoc” across the state.  Abbott said the United States has to do a “far better job” in trying to vet and ongoingly evaluate those who have come into the country who “could pose a danger.” The FBI instructed its staffers to monitor potential foreign threats with precaution.  On Saturday, FBI Director Kash Patel said he instructed counterterrorism and intelligence teams to be on “high alert” and “mobilize” all assisting security assets needed after a series of U.S. strikes on Iran. The lethal attacks dubbed “Operation Epic Fury” may have a domino effect in the region as terrorist organizations tied to Iran rise up in retaliation to multiple strikes from the U.S. and Israel.  Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and various Shiite militias in Iraq could target U.S. forces in the region promoting further instability.  “The Hezbollah threat, I think, is the one that at least in the West, we probably worry about most,” Colin Clarke, the executive director of the Soufan Center, told The Hill. The group has already begun to fire rockets and drones at Israel. The Israeli Defense Force shot down drones, and no deaths were reported from Hezbollah’s assault. However, 50 southern Lebanese villages were evacuated overnight on Monday in response to the attack, according to The Jerusalem Post . Add as preferred source on Google Tags Austin shooting Greg Abbott Kash Patel sleeper cells Trump administration U.S. strikes in Iran Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email More State Watch News See All State Watch DC lifts recreational advisory for Potomac River by Ashleigh Fields 1 hour ago State Watch  /  1 hour ago