The Latest: FBI: Shooters participated in target practice

December 7, 2015 4:19 pm

By News Staff

The Associated Press

news@abc6.com

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) _ The latest on the shootings in San Bernardino, California (all times local):

The FBI says the California shooters had participated in target practice, including once within days of the attack that killed 14 people. David Bowdich, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles office, said at a news conference Monday that Syed Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, participated in target practice at ranges in the Los Angeles area.

Bowdich says the bureau believes both were radicalized and had been "for some time." He says the bureau doesn’t know when or how they were radicalized.

Farhat Hashmi, the founder of an Islamic religious school organization that Malik attended says the group is non-political and has no links to extremists. Hashmi said in a statement on her website that Malik attended Al-Huda International Seminary’s branch in the Pakistani city of Multan briefly between 2013 and 2014.

The school is a women-only madrassa with locations across Pakistan and in the U.S. and Canada. Hashmi says Malik left without completing a diploma. Hashmi says "it seems" Malik "was unable to understand the beautiful message" of the Quran. Hashmi says the Al-Huda International Welfare Foundation denounces extremism, violence and acts of terrorism and cannot be held responsible "for personal acts of any of our students."

The FBI is still investigating the shooting that happened during a holiday gathering of Farook’s co-workers as an act of terrorism.

San Bernardino County leaders vowed increased security at county facilities Monday following the shooting. During a press conference, leaders said there will be more security guards at the facilities and they will now be armed. The Sheriff’s Department will also increase patrols at county buildings.

Bowdich says investigators found 19 pipes in the couple’s home in Redlands, California, that could be turned into bombs with all the right components.