The Islamic State group on Saturday said that a married couple who murdered 14 people in California in an attack the FBI is investigating as an “act of terrorism” were followers of the terrorist organization.
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A pro-IS Arabic-language news agency Aamaq had called Malik and Farook “sympathisers” of the Islamic State group but stopped short of claiming responsibility for the attack.
Syed Farook was a USA citizen and his wife Tashfeen Malik was Pakistani and in the country legally on a visa by marriage to Farook.
The Farook family attorney said the notion the attack was inspired by the militant group was “ridiculous” and said none of the extended family knew about any link to terrorism.
Although in the post published by the women she promised loyalty to the leader of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the authorities clarified that there is no evidence that indicate that ISIS ordered the attack on his behalf.
“We are now investigating these horrific acts as an act of terrorism”, David Bowdich, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles office, announced during a news conference Friday.
Malik was a native of Pakistan who had been living in Saudi Arabia when she met Farook during his month-long vacation there.
Last night, the authorities released the names of the 14 people who died in the attack; their ages range from 26 to 60. “We don’t have any credible information to indicate that there is a threat to this region right now”, said San Bernardino police chief Jarrod Burguan.
The attorneys said the family was aware that Farook had guns but didn’t think much of that as he had acquired them legally and enjoyed target practice.
The couple was killed hours later after a auto chase and a fierce gunbattle with police.
“I only found out about this tragedy today when some intelligence officials contacted me to ask me about my links with Tashfeen”, Rabbani said.
“It is entirely possible that these two attackers were radicalized to commit this act of terror”, Obama said. Following religious tradition in their home, men and women would remain separated during social visits, and Malik wore a burqa, a robe-like garment that covers most of the face and is the most conservative Islamic apparel worn by women.
Farook worked as an inspector for the San Bernardino County Department of Environment Health, the agency whose holiday party he and Malik allegedly attacked.
Malik was from the Layyah district in Pakistan’s southern Punjab province, but her family moved to Saudi Arabia about 25 years ago, two Pakistani officials told Reuters.
The family attorneys said Friday that the incident is being used by media as a pretext to tarnish the image of Muslims.
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The Farook family’s lawyers, Chesley and Mohammad Abuershaid, said none of his relatives had any indication either Farook or his wife held extremist views.
