At least two people were killed and 14 wounded by a gunman during an attack Saturday night at a bar in Austin, Texas, which the FBI says may be an "act of terrorism."

"It is still far too early in the investigation to determine a precise motive, but there were elements on the suspect and in his vehicle that indicate a potential link to terrorism," said Alex Doran, an official with the FBI's San Antonio office, during a press conference, without providing details on the nature of these elements.

The suspect, whose identity has not been specified, was shot dead at the scene by police officers, explained Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis.

When asked whether it was an act of domestic or international terrorism, in the wake of the Israeli-American strikes on Iran, which retaliated, the FBI agent refused to answer.

Occurring on Saturday night near a bar in a busy area of downtown Austin, the capital of Texas, the attack left at least two dead and 14 injured.

The injured were taken to the hospital.

Three of them were still in critical condition Sunday morning, authorities said.

- "Maximum alert" -

Austin police received a call reporting shots fired around Buford's, a bar located on a busy thoroughfare in the city, Lisa Davis said.

Police officers arrived quickly on the scene and "were confronted by the armed individual, and three of our officers returned fire, killing the suspect," she said.

She indicated that the assailant, who was travelling in an SUV, had first opened fire on customers of the establishment through the window of his vehicle.

He then stopped, got out, and started shooting passers-by in the street before being shot dead by police.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the quick response of the police and our emergency medical personnel (...) made the difference and saved lives," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said during the press conference.

Speaking of an event "that caused significant trauma to (his) city", the mayor offered his "thoughts" to the victims and their families.

After the Israeli-American strikes against Iran, the head of the FBI, Kash Patel, announced on X that he had "asked our counterterrorism and intelligence teams to be on high alert and to mobilize all necessary security resources."

Texas military authorities had also announced the deployment of personnel to "protect citizens and critical infrastructure from any potential threat of retaliation."