San Bernardino Suspect Was Apparently ‘Radicalized’ Law Enforcement Sources Say (Video)

Law enforcement officials say it appears Syed Farook, one of two suspects in the San Bernardino shooting, had ties to people under investigation for terrorism.

Law enforcement sources believe Syed Farook had been radicalized, possibly explaining the attack in San Bernardino yesterday. Farook was a U.S. citizen born in Illinois, who, along with his wife, died in a shootout with police after allegedly shooting to death 14 people and wounding 21 others.

Farook “communicated by phone and via social media with more than one person being investigated for terrorism,” and “was apparently radicalized and in touch with people being investigated by the FBI for international terrorism,” CNN reports, citing law enforcement officials.

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Sources believe “workplace grievances” may also have played a role in Wednesday’s attack, but CNN reports “Farook’s apparent radicalization contributed to his role in the mass shooting, with his wife Tashfeen Malik.”

“Farook traveled to Saudi Arabia for several weeks in 2013 on the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims are required to take at least once in their lifetime, which didn’t raise red flags, said two government officials,” according to CNN. “It was during this trip that he met Malik, a native of Pakistan who came to the United States on a ‘fiancée visa’ and later became a lawful permanent resident.”

David Bowdich, the assistant director in charge of the FBI in Los Angeles, told reporters today, “We do not know the motive,” of Farook, adding, “it would be irresponsible of me and be way too early to speculate on motive.” 

“There was obviously a mission here,” Bowdich also made clear. “We do not know why. We do not know if this was the intended target or something triggered him.”

 

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Image: Screenshot via CNN/YouTube