Islamic State says California killers of 14 were their followers

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.

The speaker states that Islamic State “supporters” attacked a center in San Bernardino, California, and shot dead 14 people. The Muslim couple were killed hours later in a gunbattle with police.

However, David Bowdich, assistant director of the FBI Los Angeles office, said at least one of them had made phone calls to another person who is under federal scrutiny in connection with a terrorism investigation.

“There’s a number of pieces of evidence that has essentially pushed us off the cliff to say we are now investigating this as an act of terrorism”.

The broadcast came a day after Facebook confirmed that comments praising Islamic State were posted around the time of the mass shooting to an account on the social media website established by Malik under an alias. “And yes, there was a pledge of allegiance”.

FBI Director James Comey would not discuss whether anyone affiliated with IS communicated back, but he said there was no indication yet that the plot was directed by any other foreign terror group. Despite evidence from authorities that the couple became radicalized, attorneys said there was more evidence that said otherwise and that Farook’s relatives did not see any indications that the couple held extremist views.

ISIS has now claimed the suspected shooters in San Bernardino as “supporters” of the militant group, though that doesn’t mean Wednesday’s attack was ISIS-orchestrated. Many pro-gun voices, including some Republican contenders for the White House, said the new laws would not have stopped the rampage.

The FBI previously released information that Malik had openly expressed support for the group on a Facebook page prior to the attack, but pointed out they had no information linking either attacker to forces outside of the country.

SAN BERNARDINO, California-With a young wife, infant daughter and government job, Syed Farook appeared to have arrived at a sweet-spot in life.

“It’s just mind-boggling why they would do something like this”. Malik was a Pakistani national who had formerly lived in Saudi Arabia, where her family moved for work around 25 years ago.

“I think he married a terrorist”, Christian Nwadike told CBS News.

One witness said he suddenly stormed out of the event, leaving his jacket on his seat, and returned a short while later heavily armed, dressed in black military-style gear and a mask – and accompanied by his wife.

The landlord of the couple’s rented townhouse on Friday opened their home up to reporters and the public who flooded in, taking pictures and videos in a surreal scene.

About 5,000 additional rounds, 12 pipe bomb-type explosive devices and bomb-making material were found at the couple’s home.

The FBI took over the investigation from local authorities Friday.