San Bernardino Creates Fear of Homegrown Terrorists

Following the devastating terror attacks that occurred in Paris, western countries have become concerned about the increased risk of terrorism on the home front. Now it would seem this was a rightful fear to have because a shocking act of terrorism occurred in San Bernardino, California. This gruesome fear confirmed America’s worst fears of radicalization right at home.

The perpetrators were husband and wife, Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik. Following the drop-off of their six-month-old daughter at a relative’s house, they proceeded to enact their plan of attack. Each armed with an Ar-15 assault- style rifle and a handgun, they enacted the worst American mass shooting since the 14 December 2012 shooting of Sandy Hook Elementary.

Syed and Malik stormed the Inland Regional Center during a San Bernardino County Department of Public Health employee Holiday party; around eighty people were in attendance. The shooters executed their plans with deadly accuracy, killing fourteen party-goers and resulting in twenty-one injuries.

According to the official report following the massacre, Farook and Malik fled the scene of the crime in a black SUV, which was traced back to Farook because he rented the car recently. In the aftermath of a high-speed pursuit and a brief shootout, both perpetrators lay dead.

An investigation following-up on the shooters discovered that the woman had recently pledged her allegiance to the leader of ISIS or ISIL, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.  This discovery confirmed that the shooting was indeed an act of terrorism. ISIS also claimed them as “supporters” of the cause. Obama issued a statement offering his condolences to the injured and families of the victims.

Obama identified the San Bernardino shooting as “an act of terrorism designed to kill innocent people.”

He was also very deliberate in his speech against ISIS, denouncing the group in multiple ways and trying to calm the fears of the American people, saying, “We will prevail by being strong and smart, resilient and relentless.”