California shootout leaves 14 dead, 21 wounded: Is it related to terrorism?

Yahoo reported that on Wednesday, shooting rampage occurred in San Bernardino, California. The attackers were identified as a couple. They were Syed Rizwan Farook, a 28-year-old Chicago-born, and his wife Tashfeen Malik, a 27-year-old native of Pakistan.

The shootout happened during a company party at the Inland Regional Center. Incidentally, the company that was holding their party was the company where Farook was an employee. The motive for the attack is still in question. It is still no guarantee whether it is due to a personal reason or more.

According to San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan, the attackers carried the mass shooting by firing 65 to 75 rounds. They also left 1,400 ammunition rounds and a remote-control device with three pipe bombs attached to it before they went away from the facility.

The California attack left 14 dead and 21 people wounded.

The Star Tribune stated that a US intelligence official confirmed that Farook had been in touch with some Islamic extremists and terrorists using social media. However, the "husband-and-wife attackers" were not under the FBI scrutiny before the rampage because the contact that Farook made with the terrorists were identified as "soft connections."

It has also been found out that Farook visited Saudi Arabia at least twice in 2013 and 2014.

These pieces of information were discovered while the investigation as to what the real motive of the attack is. It could be work-related, terrorism-related, a combination or other.

According to NBC News, both the California attackers died in a shootout with the police after more than four hours after the massacre.

Burguan said that there was a search at a home tied to the couple. During the search, they discovered 12 pipe-bomb-type devices and a cache of ammunition that includes hundreds of .22 Long Rifle rounds, 2,500 .233 caliber rounds and 2,000 9mm rounds.

It has also been found out that the black Ford Expedition that the two used as a gateway is a rented car. They rented it three to four days ago before the incident happened.

A witness also said that Farook attended their company holiday party. However, he left the event about 30 minutes before the massive shootout took place.

People who had known with Farook said that he was a nice man. Members of the mosque where the gunman reportedly worshipped said that he was mild-mannered and a devout Muslim. A former co-worker also said that he was well-liked by his co-workers and that he rarely discussed religion at work as well.