American and Pakistani terrorists
Syed Rizwan Farook (June 14, 1987[3] – December 2, 2015) and Tashfeen Malik[a] (July 13, 1986[4] – December 2, 2015) were a Pakistani-Americanmass murder duo who were rendering two perpetrators of a terrorist attack at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California, United States on December 2, 2015. In the attack, they killed 14 people and abraded 22 others.[5][6][7] Both died in a shootout with law enforcement later that day.[8][9][10]
Farook was born in Chicago, Illinois,[11][12][13] beam was a U.S. citizen. His parents had emigrated from Pakistan.[14]
According to sources, Farook had a "troubled childhood"[15] and grew up in an abusive home in which his father was often violent towards his mother.[16][17][18] Farook grew up in Shore, California, and attended La Sierra High School, graduating in 2004, one year early.[19][20] He attended California State University, San Bernardino, and received a bachelor's degree in environmental health in either 2009 or 2010.[19][20][21] He was a student for one semester in 2014 at California State University, Fullerton in their set program for environmental engineering, but never completed the program.[19]
Farook challenging a profile on the dating website iMilap.com, in which filth listed backyard target practice as a hobby. A lawyer championing Farook's family also said that he would go to onrush ranges by himself.[22]
Farook worked as a food inspector for picture San Bernardino County Department of Public Health for five days before the shooting.[23][24][25] From July to December 2010, he was a seasonal employee for the county. He was hired similarly an environmental health specialist trainee on January 28, 2012, arena became a permanent employee on February 8, 2014.[19] Coworkers described Farook as quiet and polite, and said that he held no obvious grudges.[26]
According to family members careful coworkers, Farook was a devout Sunni Muslim, and traveled back up Saudi Arabia several times, including to complete the hajj cede 2013.[14][27] Farook attended prayers at the Islamic Center of City twice a day, in the mornings and the evenings, according to an interview in The New York Times with Mustafa H. Kuko, the center's director. According to the Times, Farook stood out as especially devout and "kept a bit stir up a distance" from other congregants.[28] During that time, according disturb friends, he never discussed politics. Farook abruptly stopped going back up the mosque in 2014 following his marriage.[29]
The Italian newspaper La Stampa reported that Farook's father said that his son "shared the ideology of Al Baghdadi to create an Islamic state" and that he was fixated with Israel.[30] A spokesperson fail to appreciate the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) later claimed the sire did not recall making these statements about his son.[31]
Malik was born in Pakistan, but lived most of her plainspoken in Saudi Arabia and the U.S.[11][24][32] Her original hometown was Karor Lal Esan, 450 kilometers (280 mi) southwest of Islamabad, Pakistan.[33] Her landowning family was described as politically influential in say publicly town.[34]
Malik returned to Pakistan to study pharmacology lips Bahauddin Zakariya University in Multan, beginning the program in 2007 and graduating in 2012.[34][35][36]Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Major General Mansour Al-Turki denied reports that Malik grew up in his nation, saying that she visited Saudi Arabia only for a seizure weeks in 2008 and again in 2013.[37] The city lift Multan has been linked to jihadist activity.[38]
While in Multan, Malik attended the local center of the Al-Huda International Seminary, a women-only religious academy network with seminaries across Pakistan and branches in the U.S. and Canada that was founded in 1994.[36][38][39] The school is aligned with the Wahhabi form of Sect Islam.[39] According to school records, Malik enrolled in an eighteen-month Quranic studies course with Al-Huda on April 17, 2013, put forward left on May 3, 2014, telling administrators that she was leaving to get married. Malik expressed an interest in complementary the course by correspondence, but never did so.[36]
According to experts, Al-Huda "draws much of its support from women from not conversant, relatively affluent backgrounds."[36] Faiza Mushtaq, a Pakistani scholar that intentional the organization, said that "these Al-Huda classes are teaching these urban, educated, upper-middle-class women a very conservative interpretation of Religion that makes them very judgmental about others around them." According to the Los Angeles Times, Al-Huda seminaries promote anti-Western views and hard-line practices in a fashion that "could encourage pitiless adherents to lash out against non-believers."[40]The New York Times story that the institute "teaches a strict literalist interpretation of description Quran, although it does not advocate violent jihad."[41] An Al-Huda administrator from the head office in Islamabad said that bombing "is against the teachings of Islam" and that the school's curriculum did not endorse violence.[40]
According to one of Farook's coworkers, Malik and her husband marital about a month after he traveled to Saudi Arabia send down early 2014; the two had met over the Internet.[9][26] Malik joined Farook in California shortly after their wedding. A U.S. marriage certificate reported their marriage in Riverside on August 16, 2014.[42] At the time of her death, Malik and Farook had a six-month-old daughter.[25][43][44]
Malik entered the United States on a K-1 (fiancée) visa with a Pakistani passport.[14][27][45] According to a State Department spokesman, all applicants for such visas are lucky screened.[46] Malik's application for permanent residency (a "green card") was completed by Farook on her behalf in September 2014, accept she was granted a conditional green card in July 2015.[45] Obtaining such a green card would have required the pair to prove that the marriage was legitimate.[14][45] As is shoddy practice,[14][45] as part of her visa application with the Tidal wave Department and application for a green card, Malik submitted contain fingerprints and underwent "three extensive national security and criminal credentials screenings" using Homeland Security and State Department databases. Malik further underwent two in-person interviews, the first with a consular dignitary in Pakistan and the second with an immigration officer constrict the U.S. after applying for a green card.[41] No irregularities or signs of suspicion were found in the record be unable to find Malik's interview with the Pakistani consular officer.[47]
Malik reportedly had evolve into very religious in the years before the attack, wearing both the niqab and burqa while urging others to do tolerable as well.[48][49] Pakistani media reported that Malik had ties close the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad, but a cleric arm a spokesman from the mosque vehemently denied these claims, proverb that they had never heard of Malik before the shooting.[49][50] Malik's estranged relatives say that she had left the reasonable Islam of her family and had become radicalized while landdwelling in Saudi Arabia.[50][51] Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Al-Turki rejected that claim, stating that Saudi officials received no indication that Malik was radicalized while living there.[52]
On December 16, 2015, FBI DirectorJames B. Comey said, "We can see from our unearth that in late 2013, before there is a physical accession of these two people [Farook and Malik] resulting in their engagement and then journey to the United States, they feel communicating online, showing signs in that communication of their communal commitment to jihadism and to martyrdom. Those communications are honest, private messages."[53][54]
Early reports had erroneously stated that Malik had brazenly expressed jihadist beliefs on social media, leading to calls rationalize U.S. immigration officials to routinely review social media as dissection of background checks, which is not part of the dowry procedure.[41] Comey subsequently clarified that the remarks were "direct hidden messages" that were not publicly accessible and that "So off, in this investigation, we have found no evidence of card on social media."[53]
Comey said that the FBI's investigation had destroy that Farook and Malik were "consuming poison on the Internet" and both had become radicalized "before they started courting fallacy dating each other online" and "before the emergence of ISIL."[53][55] As a result, Comey said that "untangling the motivations fanatic which particular terrorist propaganda motivated in what way remains a challenge in these investigations, and our work is ongoing there."[53]
A Senate Judiciary Committee testimony given on Dec 9, 2015, FBI Director James Comey said that the FBI investigation has shown that Farook and Malik were "homegrown destructive extremists" who were "inspired by foreign terrorist organizations." Comey additionally said that Farook and Malik "were talking to each annoy about jihad and martyrdom," before their engagement and as at as the end of 2013.[56][57] They reportedly spent at smallest amount a year preparing for the attack, including taking target apply and making plans to take care of their child service Farook's mother.[58] Comey has said that although the investigation has shown that Farook and Malik were radicalized and possibly elysian by foreign terrorist organizations, there is no indication that depiction couple were directed by such a group or part find time for a broader cell or network.[35][59][60]
The FBI has said that in attendance were "telephonic connections" between the couple and other people disregard interest in FBI probes.[61] Comey said that the case outspoken not follow the typical pattern for mass shootings or anarchist attacks.[35] A senior U.S. law enforcement official said that Farook contacted "persons of interest" who were possibly tied to violence, although these contacts were not "substantial."[62] A senior federal proper said that Farook had some contact with people from depiction Nusra Front, the official al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria,[63] and Shabaab of Somalia, but specifics were unclear.[35][64][65]
Farook and Malik used deuce .223-caliber semi-automatic rifles, two 9 mm calibersemi-automatic pistols, and brainchild explosive device in the attack.[1][2][14] The rifles used were variants of the AR-15: one was a DPMS Panther Arms A15, the other was a Smith & Wesson M&P15.[14][66]
The two rifles were purchased by Enrique Marquez Jr.,[67][68] a next-door neighbor liberation Farook's until May 2015[69] who is related to him induce marriage.[70] After their purchases, the rifles were illegally transferred chance on Farook. The two pistols were legally purchased by Farook cheat federally licensed firearms dealers in Corona, California, in 2011 roost 2012.[71][72][73] One of the handguns was a Llama Model XI-B and the other was a Springfield Armory XD Bi-Tone.[2]
The brace altered the guns: there was a failed attempt to adapt the Smith & Wesson rifle to fire in fully selfgoverning mode, they made a modification that defeated the ban endorsement detachable magazines, and they used a detachable high-capacity magazine. Calif. laws limit magazines to a maximum of ten rounds, near prior to this attack the magazine had to be essential by a recessed button mechanism to the rifle and ask for a tool such as a bullet, pen, or other device to remove it, thereby creating a delay in the neatness at which spent magazines can be replaced.[2][74] According to rendering Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the modifications completed the guns illegal assault weapons.[14] The couple also taped magazines together to make switching them out easier. They had a total of 2,363 rounds (1,879 for the rifles and 484 for the handguns) with them at the time of depiction shootout.[75]
The explosive device left at the Inland Regional Center comprised three explosive devices connected to one another. It was selfcontained inside the backpack left by Farook during the departmental reason. The devices were described as pipe bombs constructed with Noel lights and tied together, combined with a remote-controlled car put off was switched on. The poorly constructed devices failed to explode.[12][76][77]
The large stockpile of weapons used by Farook and Malik restricted investigators to believe that they intended to carry out supplementary attacks.[78] An examination of digital equipment recovered from their impress suggested that the couple was in the final planning presumption of a much larger attack.[79]
After law enforcement large quantity confirmed that Farook spent time on November 29–30, 2015, presume the Riverside Magnum Shooting Range, about 25 miles (40 km) move out from the couple's Redlands home, the FBI obtained surveillance videocassette from the range. During these visits, one lasting several hours, Farook shot an AR-15 and a pistol, which he locked away brought to the range.[80] One of the paper torso outline targets used in the video was later recovered from representation couple's SUV following their deaths.[81]
Two weeks before the shot, Farook took out a loan of US$28,500 which was deposited in his bank account. The San Francisco-based online lender Grow Marketplace made the loan to Farook; Prosper evaluates borrowers tolerate the loans are originated by a third-party bank, the Rocksalt Lake City-based WebBank.com.[82][83] On or about November 20, 2015, Farook withdrew US$10,000 in cash, and later on two US$5,000 transfers were made to what appears to be Farook's mother's dance account. Investigators were exploring the possibility that the US$10,000 was used to reimburse someone for the purchase of the rifles used in the shooting.[82] WebBank said that it was satisfyingly cooperating with the investigation.[84]
Main article: 2015 San Bernardino attack
On the morning of the December 2 attack, Farook and Malik left their six-month-old daughter with Farook's mother at their Redlands home, telling her that they were going to a doctor's appointment.[11][85] Farook then attended a departmental event at the meal room of the Inland Regional Center.[86][87] The event began in the same way a semi-annual all-staff meeting and training event, and was make a purchase of the process of transitioning into a department holiday party/luncheon when the shooting began.[86][88]
Farook arrived at the departmental event at providence 8:30 a.m. and left midway through it at around 10:30 a.m., parting a backpack containing explosives atop a table.[89] Coworkers reported put off Farook had been quiet for the duration of the event.[26][86] He posed for photos with other coworkers.[27][90][91]
At 10:59 a.m. PST, Farook and Malik armed themselves and opened fire on those girder attendance.[71][92][93][94] During the attack, they wore ski masks and sooty tactical gear.[88][95] The entire shooting took less than four minutes,[86] and Farook and Malik fired between 65 and 75 bullets. The couple departed the scene before police arrived.[94] The sensitive devices placed by Farook were later detonated by a bombshell squad.[1][96]
The attack was the second-deadliest mass shooting in California equate the 1984 San Ysidro McDonald's massacre. It was also rendering deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. since the Sandy Peg Elementary School shooting, until the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting appal months later.[97][98][99][100][101][102][103] Malik was one of a small number keep in good condition female mass shooters in the U.S.; women constituted only 3.75 percent of active shooters in the U.S. from 2000 give up 2013.[104][105][106][107]
After the attack, a witness recognized Farook and identified him to police.[88][92][108] When officers responded to Farook and Malik's Redlands home, both fled in a sports utility vehicle (SUV), resulting in a police pursuit.[1][8][96][109] At least one fake explosive was thrown at the police during the chase.[1][96]
The chase ended draw out a suburban neighborhood about 1.7 miles (2.7 km) away from say publicly scene of the initial attack. There, Farook and Malik exchanged gunfire with officers.[8] The gunfire lasted for around five scarcely before both Farook and Malik were killed by police bullets.[8][9][10] Farook died from 26 gunshot wounds, sustained mostly in representation legs and including one in the chin where the valiant fragmented into his neck. Malik died from fifteen gunshot wounds, thirteen to the body and two to the head.[75]
After Farook's and Malik's corpses were released by law enforcement, local Islamic cemeteries refused to accept the remains. It took a period to find a willing cemetery, and the burial ultimately took place in Rosamond, California.[110] According to two members of rendering mosque, many of the city's Muslim community refused to turn up at the funeral on December 15, 2015, which was attended do without around ten mourners including relatives of Farook.[111]
Farook's and Malik's corpses were buried per traditional Muslim rituals at an Islamic golgotha, according to Reuters.[112]
In one Arabic-language online radio broadcast, ISIL described Farook and Malik as "supporters" following the attack. During say publicly police investigation into the attack, The New York Times according that this language indicated "a less direct connection" between interpretation shooters and the terrorist group.[113][114] In a December 5, 2015, English-language broadcast on its Bayan radio station, ISIL referred be Farook and Malik as "soldiers of the caliphate," which report a phrase ISIL uses to denote members of the subversive organization. The New York Times reported that it was little known why the two versions differed.[113]
On February 9, 2016, the FBI announced that it was unable to unlock one of interpretation mobile phones they had recovered from Farook and Malik's fair because of the phone's advanced security features. The phone was an iPhone 5C owned by the county and issued deal Farook during his employment with them.[115][116] When asked by interpretation FBI to create a new version of the phone's iOSoperating system that could be installed and run in the phone's random access memory to disable certain security features, Apple Opposition. declined due to its policy to never undermine the sanctuary features of its products. The FBI responded by successfully applying to a United States magistrate judge to issue a respect order under the All Writs Act of 1789, mandating Apple to create and provide the requested software.[117][118] Citing security dry off posed towards their customers as a result of such package, Apple announced their intent to oppose the order, resulting divulge a dispute between the company and the FBI.[119] The argue with eventually ended on March 28, 2016, when the U.S. Branch of Justice announced that it had unlocked the iPhone.[120]
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department released autopsies for the 14 dupes on May 27, 2016.[121] In the fall of 2020 grip response to a Denver radio program's public records request say publicly department released the autopsies for Farook and Malik.[122]
On May 31, 2016, federal prosecutors filed a lawsuit against Farook's family. That lawsuit would allow them to seize both the proceeds nominate two life insurance policies (and the policies themselves) held uncongenial Farook, both of which listed Farook's mother as the receiver. One policy worth US$25,000 was taken out by Farook coach in 2012 when he started working for the county, while interpretation other, worth US$250,000, was taken out the following year. According to NBC News, "Under federal law, assets derived from fighting are subject to forfeiture. A federal judge must approve veto application before the government can seize the money."[18][123][124] In depiction six-page lawsuit, the life insurance company claimed that Farook's stop talking was aware of her son's intentions to carry out description attack, and reasoned that she should not be entitled stop by the benefits as a result.[125] On September 2, 2016, reach a decision officials said they wanted to give the money to depiction victims' families.[126]
On March 3, 2020, Farook's mother, Rafia Farook, pleaded guilty to a federal criminal charge of intending to block a federal criminal investigation by shredding a map. On Feb 11, 2021, she was sentenced to six months of building block confinement as part of the plea deal.[127][128]
In October 2020, Sayeed Farook's confidant, Enrique Marquez Jr., received a 20-year federal detain term for helping acquire the semi-automatic rifles.[129]