Syed Farook, 28, and Tashfeen Malik, 27, the suspects responsible for the San Bernardino Islamic terror attack. (Photos: AP/EPA)
The Islamic State (ISIS) official radio station has aired a statement saying the terror attack in San Bernardino, Calif., was carried out by two “supporters.” of ISIS. The ISIS radio broadcast praised the attacks and called Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik “lions,” ”fighters” or “mujahedeen.”
“Two followers of Islamic State attacked several days ago a centre in San Bernadino in California, opening fire inside the centre, leading to the deaths of 14 people and wounding more than 20 others” the group’s daily broadcast said.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said on Friday that they had amassed enough evidence to treat the investigation as “an act of terrorism.”
“Based on the information and the facts as we know them, we are now investigating these horrific acts as an act of terrorism,” David Bowdich, assistant director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Los Angeles office.
He said the FBI was optimistic the examination of data retrieved from two smashed cellphones and other electronic devices seized in the investigation would provide larger picture as to how they developed the motive for the attack. Bowdich also confirmed that Malik pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in a Facebook post made under an alias.
“I know it was in a general timeline where that post was made, and yes, there was a pledge of allegiance,” Bowdich said.
While the FBI said that it lacked evidence that the jihadist couple belonged to a larger organization of extremists, they believe they did not have the finances alone to purchase the arsenal and bomb-making tools and materials found in the apartment. FBI sources tell PPD that those leads are being run down overseas.
The Los Angeles Times cited a federal law enforcement source in reporting that the husband had contact with at least two militant groups overseas, including the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front in Syria. However, PPD has not yet confirmed that information independently.
Wednesday’s terror attack marks the deadliest such attack in the United States since Sept. 11, 2001.
