Update: In Absolutely Bizarre Episode, Media Enter Shooters’ Apartment
In the latest reports from San Bernardino, it’s looking like investigators have found a smoking gun linking the attack to Islamist terrorism: San Bernardino shooting tied to ISIS.
(CNN) Investigators think that as the San Bernardino, California, massacre was happening, female shooter Tashfeen Malik posted a pledge of allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi on Facebook, three U.S. officials familiar with the investigation told CNN.
Malik’s post was made on an account with a different name, one U.S. official said. The officials did not explain how they knew Malik made the post.
A law enforcement official said it appeared that Wednesday’s mass shooting — which left 14 people dead and 21 wounded before the two attackers, Malik and her husband, Syed Rizwan Farook, were killed in a shootout with police — may have been inspired by ISIS.
But none of the officials said that ISIS directed or ordered the attack. ISIS has called for people worldwide to launch attacks in its name, but isn’t known to have claimed credit for what happened in San Bernardino.
“This is looking more and more like self-radicalization,” a law enforcement official said.
Also today, in one of the more bizarre episodes we’ve seen on television in a while, reporters and members of the public were actually allowed to enter the attackers’ apartment: Journalists storm San Bernardino shooters’ apartment after landlord pries open door.
Door of #SanBernardino shooters’ home opened by owner. Media heading in. pic.twitter.com/4XQnNQemmY
— Victor Blackwell CNN (@VictorCNN) December 4, 2015
The FBI has confirmed that they’re now investigating the attack “as an act of terrorism.”