Authorities said there were three pipe bombs tied together in a bag at the scene, and the design indicated that suspects Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik appeared to believe their initial attack would draw a heavy law enforcement and emergency personnel response and left behind a device that would cause still greater casualties.
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At the scene of the attack, suspects were each carrying.223-caliber rifles, one a DPMS model and the other a Smith & Wesson MMP 15, San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said at a Thursday morning press conference. After firing almost 100 rounds, the couple escaped in a black Ford Expedition.
Farook and Malik were killed in the police pursuit that ended in a shootout.
Wearing military-style gear and wielding assault rifles, they slaughtered 14 and wounded 21 in the attack at a social service centre shortly after Syed slipped away from an employee banquet he was attending there.
Authorities later found thousands more rounds of ammunition at the couple’s residence, 12 pipe bombs and hundreds of tools that “could be used to construct IEDs or pipe bombs”, the chief said. The device consisted of three connected pipe bombs with a remote control that apparently did not work.
Before they went on the rampage, the couple dropped off their 6-month-old daughter with relatives Wednesday morning, saying they had a doctor’s appointment, according to Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Farook was United States born while Malik’s nationality was yet to be determined.
The father also said he and his son who lived with him were from the Middle East, Adam said.
Following November attacks in Paris carried out by ISIL that killed 130, there have been heightened fears about terror attacks around the world. She said Thalasino told her that Farook “doesn’t agree that Islam is not a peaceful religion”. He returned with Malik and opened fire on his colleagues before fleeing in the SUV. He left the room, leaving his coat on his chair, police said. After escaping, they were gunned down four hours later.
At this stage, we do not yet know why this bad event occurred.
“There was obviously a mission here”, said David Bowdich, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles office.
Two officers were injured, one of whom was shot in the leg and another who was hurt by flying glass or shrapnel. She said the building houses at least 25 employees as well as a library and conference center.
The LAT references court records related to 2006 divorce filings to paint a picture of a turbulent home life endured by Farook.
“I am in shock that something like this could happen”, said Khan, who is married to Farook’s sister.
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Mr Paez’s father frantically checked hospitals. As the investigation moves forward, it’s going to be important for all of us, including our legislatures, to see what we can do to make sure that when an individual decides they want to do somebody harm, we make it a little harder for them to do it. Right now, it’s just too easy.
