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Feds: San Bernardino Gunwoman Pledged Allegiance To ISIS On Facebook
Law enforcement officers in San Bernardino after the mass shooting. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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The woman who helped carry out Wednesday's mass shooting that killed 14 in San Bernardino pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in a Facebook posting, federal officials say.
The Facebook posting—since taken down—sheds some light on what motivated Tashfeen Malik, 29, and her husband Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, to carry out an attack on Farook's coworkers at the San Bernardino County Health Department.
Federal officials told the New York Times that they believe the couple launched the attack on their own: "At this point we believe they were more self-radicalized and inspired by the group than actually told to do the shooting." The Times notes that Islamic terrorists often offer up an oath of allegiance called a bayat to declare their loyalty to the cause.
In the days before the shooting, the couple took pains to cover up their electronic tracks, federal officials say. That adds to the heap of evidence that the attack was premeditated.
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Malik was from Pakistan, but most recently she had been living in Saudi Arabia. She entered the United States with a K-1 visa, also known as a fiancé visa. Farook traveled to Saudi Arabia frequently. In July of 2014, he came back married to Mailk—apparently after meeting her on a Muslim dating website. Together they had a six-month-old daughter. Coworkers had recently thrown a baby shower for Farook.
Related:
The Victims Of The San Bernardino Mass Shootings
Shooting Suspects Had Enough Weapons And Bombs For Another Attack
Thoughts And Prayers Aren't Working, Say Gun Control Advocates
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