On December 2, 2015, a terrorist attack consisting of multiple shootings and an attempted bombing, occurred at a health care facility in San Bernadino California. The perps were a married couple, Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik. The shooting occurred at a San Bernadino Department of Public Health training session and Christmas party of about 80 employees where Farook worked. 14 people were killed and 22 others were seriously injured.
Farook was at the party and left a bag containing three pipe bombs that were meant to detonate by remote control. The devices, which had been built using an Al-Qaeda online instructions, were poorly constructed and failed to detonate. Farook and Malik turned to plan B. At about 11:00 they entered the party in full black tactical gear and carrying semi-automatic rifles and pistols. They immediately began firing and killing people. The shooting lasted less than 3 minutes and over 100 rounds were fired.
Police responded and immediately entered the building to locate the perps, but discovered that they had fled in a rented Ford Expedition seconds before. Witnesses identified the duo and a manhunt was initiated. Police spotted the Ford about 4 hours after the massacre and a major pursuit was initiated. The pursuit turned into a running gunbattle with Malik shooting a rifle and throwing simulated pipe bombs from the rear window. Eventually the vehicle stopped and Farook exited the vehicle, shooting at the police while Malik stayed in the SUV continuing to fire. Eventually the two were killed by the dozens of law enforcement officers who were on scene. Two San Bernadino Police Officers where shot and injured by the pair.
A joint investigation led by the FBI found that the perpetrators were inspired by Islamic terrorists and terrorist organizations. The FBI reported that the couple “were talking to each other about jihad and martyrdom,” since before they were married. They reportedly spent at least a year preparing for the attack, including taking target practice and making pipe bombs.
PHOTO BY SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT - HTTPS://WWW.INDEPENDENT.CO.UK/NEWS/WORLD/AMERICAS/SAN-BERNARDINO-SHOOTING-ATTACKERS-MODIFIED-WEAPONS-TO-MAKE-THEM-MORE-DEADLY-A6761566.HTMLHTTP://IMG.THESUN.CO.UK/AIDEMITLUM/ARCHIVE/02589/SANBERNARDINO_04_2589795A.JPG, PUBLIC DOMAIN, HTTPS://COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG/W/INDEX.PHP?CURID=45514432
;
