FBI director James Comey confirmed Friday that his agency was treating the shooting spree in San Bernardino as a "federal terrorist investigation" but said there is no indication the killers were part of a cell or network or were directed by a terrorist group.
Authorities say Syed Farook, 28, and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, 27, opened fire on a holiday party at the Inland Regional Center in on Wednesday, killing 14 people and injuring 21. They were killed hours later in a gunbattle with police as they attempted to flee in a black SUV.
Comey said there are indications of "radicalization by the killers and the potential inspiration by foreign terrorist organizations," but did not elaborate. U.S. officials earlier said Malik had expressed support …show more content…
While conceding that a lot of evidence in this case that "does not make sense," Comey, speaking in Washington, said that a large volume of evidence prompted authorities to add the terror designation to the investigation.
"We are spending a tremendous amount of time trying to understand the motives of the killers and every detail of their lives," the FBI director said.
Comey said the killers tried to destroy or conceal evidence by smashing electronic devices, but that investigators had been able to harvest considerable data from cellphones. Authorities say Farook was deleting information from such devices at least one day before the attack.
Comey also sought to allay widespread concerns across the country over the killings.
"We know this is very unsettling for the people of the United States, but we hope you will not let fear becoming disabling, but try to channel it into an awareness of your surroundings," he
Authorities say Syed Farook, 28, and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, 27, opened fire on a holiday party at the Inland Regional Center in on Wednesday, killing 14 people and injuring 21. They were killed hours later in a gunbattle with police as they attempted to flee in a black SUV.
Comey said there are indications of "radicalization by the killers and the potential inspiration by foreign terrorist organizations," but did not elaborate. U.S. officials earlier said Malik had expressed support …show more content…
While conceding that a lot of evidence in this case that "does not make sense," Comey, speaking in Washington, said that a large volume of evidence prompted authorities to add the terror designation to the investigation.
"We are spending a tremendous amount of time trying to understand the motives of the killers and every detail of their lives," the FBI director said.
Comey said the killers tried to destroy or conceal evidence by smashing electronic devices, but that investigators had been able to harvest considerable data from cellphones. Authorities say Farook was deleting information from such devices at least one day before the attack.
Comey also sought to allay widespread concerns across the country over the killings.
"We know this is very unsettling for the people of the United States, but we hope you will not let fear becoming disabling, but try to channel it into an awareness of your surroundings," he