IS hails California attackers as ‘soldiers of caliphate’

Islamic State said on Saturday that a married couple who killed 14 people in California in an attack the FBI is investigating as an “act of terrorism” were followers of the militant group based in Syria and Iraq. The couple died in a shootout with police after the Wednesday attack that also left 21 injured.

FBI Director James Comey said, however, that there was no indication the couple were “part of an organized larger group or part of a cell”.

“We have uncovered evidence that has led us to learn of extensive planning”, David Bowdich, the assistant Federal Bureau of Investigation director in charge of the Los Angeles office, told reporters.

Momentos adorn a shrine following Wednesday’s attack in San Bernardino, California December 5, 2015.

Still in mourning, Khan and her husband Farhan Khan were visibly shaken by news that their sister-in-law Tashfeen Malik reportedly pledged her allegiance to ISIS shortly before the attack.

If the shooting is the work of Islamist militants, as suspected, it would mark the deadliest such attack in the United States since September 11, 2001.

“This is looking more and more like self-radicalization”, a law enforcement official said on condition of anonymity.

Terror group ISIS on its radio station said that the two Muslims who attacked a holiday party in California and killed 14 people are “followers”.

Authorities on Saturday said that while the two rifles used by the couple in the massacre had been purchased legally, they had been altered to make them more powerful and were illegal under USA law.

This statement came as a refutation of the claims spread by US media that Syed Farook, 28, an American citizen of Pakistani origin became radicalised after marrying Tashfeen Malik, 27, “in Saudi Arabia last year”.

A photo of Ms. Malik surfaced yesterday after it was discovered that the mother of a six month old girl had just been approved for a green card this summer after moving to the USA on a “fiance visa” a year ago.

The killers were in possession of more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition during the confrontation with police that resulted in their deaths, and authorities found another 4,500 rounds – including 2,500 for assault rifles – in their home, along with explosives. She first met Farook who was born in IL to Pakistani parents, online.

Obama plans to discuss the ongoing investigation into the attack as well as terrorism in general during a nationwide address at 8 p.m. EST Sunday. Facebook said it later took it down because it violated community standards that prohibit the promotion of terrorism or the glorification of violence.