“Two sympathisers of the Islamic State attacked a centre in San Bernardino, California, opening fire inside the location, killing 14 people and wounding 21”, a statement from the pro-IS Arabic-language news agency Aamaq said.
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“Two followers of Islamic State attacked several days ago a centre in San Bernadino in California”, the group’s daily online radio broadcast al-Bayan said on Saturday.
News and other journalists were allowed in to the suspects’ home as it was claimed that one had pledged allegiance online to so-called Islamic State during the deadly attack. Militants affiliated with IS who carry out attacks are commonly referred to in the group’s propaganda as “lions”, “fighters” or “mujahedeen”.
Earlier, US’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) chief James Comey said on Friday that the shooting was being investigated as potential terrorism, but there was “no indication” suggesting a terror angle.
US-born Muslim Syed Farook, along with his Pakistani wife Tashfeen Malik, gunned down 14 people in California, before being killed in a shootout with police.
But CNN and other news media outlets reported that Malik’s Facebook posts included a pledge of allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
He said the FBI hoped examination of data retrieved from two smashed cellphones and other electronic devices seized in the investigation would lead to a motive for the attack. He warned that the investigation has not yet shown evidence the couple was part of a larger group.
On Saturday, US President Barack Obama insisted that America “will not be terrorized”.
“#BringItOn CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!!# AMERICAONFIRE WHEN WE SAY WE’LL KILL YOU IN UR COUNTRIES WE MEAN IT (sic)”, IS supporter Alharthidz Jarallah tweeted on the day of the attack.
Lawyers for Farook’s family urged the public and media to wait for specific evidence before jumping to conclusions, saying none of his relatives had any indication either Farook or his wife held extremist views.
He and Abuershaid said the family was shocked by the attack and mourns for the victims.
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The official reportedly described “some kind” of contact between Farook and people from the Nusra Front and al-Shabab group, but there was no clear information about what kind of contact it was or who the people were. He also said his brother, Malik’s father, had become considerably more conservative since moving with his family to Saudi Arabia a quarter century ago.
