|
 |
FBI Will
Investigate San Bernardino Shootings as Terrorist Act
FBI Director James Comey and Attorney General Loretta Lynch speak to
reporters about this week’s mass shooting in San Bernardino, California
during a press availability held December 4, 2015 at FBI Headquarters
in Washington, D.C. | High-res image
The FBI announced today that it is assuming a leadership role in the
investigation into the mass shooting that occurred earlier this week in
San Bernardino, California, and that the attack that killed 14 people
and injured 21 others has been deemed an act of terrorism.
“This is now a federal terrorism investigation, led by the FBI,” said
Director James Comey, speaking to reporters at FBI Headquarters in
Washington, D.C. He was joined by Attorney General Loretta Lynch. “The
reason for that,” Comey said, “is that the investigation so far has
developed indications of radicalization by the killers and of the
potential inspiration by foreign terrorist organizations.” The Bureau’s
work, however, continues in close cooperation with our federal, state,
and local partners.
Comey cautioned that it is early in the investigation, “but so far,
there is no indication that these killers are part of an organized
larger group.” He added that hundreds of FBI personnel are following
leads all over the world. “We are trying to understand the motives of
these killers and trying to understand every detail of their lives.”
The FBI is in possession of a large volume of electronic evidence that
belonged to the husband and wife shooters, Syed Rizwan Farook and
Tashfeen Malik. Comey said the couple tried to conceal and destroy
electronic evidence before they were killed in a shootout with police
Wednesday.
Comey assured the public that the FBI is working as fast as it can to
find answers. “We aspire to do it quickly,” he said, “but we most of
all aspire to do it well and do it carefully.”
“Our hearts continue to ache for the people lost and wounded in San
Bernardino and their families,” Comey said, echoing Lynch’s earlier
sentiments to keep the victims and their families “in our prayers.”
|
|
|
|
