RIYADH—Supporters of Islamic State carried out the deadly attack in San Bernardino, Calif., that killed 14 people, the militant group said Saturday in an online news bulletin.
In a broadcast on al-Bayan Radio, authenticated by SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors and tracks radical groups online, the group said it considered the two shooters “martyrs.” Islamic State tends to claim a wide range of attacks, though its involvement is often disputed.
Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, are the main suspects in Wednesday’s massacre, which took place at a gathering of county employees, also leaving 21 people wounded.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said Friday it was investigating the shooting as a terrorist act.
FBI Director James Comey said the couple had shown signs of adopting radical ideas and “potential inspiration by foreign terrorist organizations.”
Ms. Malik posted a message on Facebook pledging allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Islamic State, Mr. Comey said.
Investigators are still looking into the circumstances of how the couple met and what led them to carry out the attack.
Mr. Comey said that, so far, there are no indications the two suspects were part of a broader terror cell, and that the two suspects hadn’t been previously on the FBI’s radar.
Mr. Farook was a U.S. native born to Pakistani immigrants. Ms. Malik was a Pakistani national who had formerly lived in Saudi Arabia, where her family moved for work around 25 years ago.
Saudi authorities indicated on Saturday that it was unlikely that the couple had met in the kingdom.
The interior ministry said Mr. Farook made two visits to Saudi Arabia. The first was in June 2014 for nine days to perform umrah—also known as the lesser pilgrimage. The second was for performing the hajj in 2013. He came from the United Arab Emirates, entered the kingdom on Oct. 1 and left on Oct. 20.
Ms. Malik entered Saudi Arabia twice with a Pakistani passport to visit family, a spokesman for the Saudi interior ministry said.
The first visit was in July 2008 coming from Pakistan. She stayed for nine weeks before returning to Pakistan. The second visit was in June 2013, again coming from Pakistan. She entered the kingdom on June 8 and left for India on Oct. 6 before the start of the hajj, according to the Saudi official.
In a broadcast on al-Bayan Radio, authenticated by SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors and tracks radical groups online, the group said it considered the two shooters “martyrs.” Islamic State tends to claim a wide range of attacks, though its involvement is often disputed.
Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, are the main suspects in Wednesday’s massacre, which took place at a gathering of county employees, also leaving 21 people wounded.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said Friday it was investigating the shooting as a terrorist act.
FBI Director James Comey said the couple had shown signs of adopting radical ideas and “potential inspiration by foreign terrorist organizations.”
Ms. Malik posted a message on Facebook pledging allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Islamic State, Mr. Comey said.
Investigators are still looking into the circumstances of how the couple met and what led them to carry out the attack.
A new report from George Washington University's Program on Extremism sheds light on the radicalization of American ISIS supporters. WSJ's Shelby Holliday highlights three key findings.
Mr. Comey said that, so far, there are no indications the two suspects were part of a broader terror cell, and that the two suspects hadn’t been previously on the FBI’s radar.
Mr. Farook was a U.S. native born to Pakistani immigrants. Ms. Malik was a Pakistani national who had formerly lived in Saudi Arabia, where her family moved for work around 25 years ago.
Saudi authorities indicated on Saturday that it was unlikely that the couple had met in the kingdom.
The interior ministry said Mr. Farook made two visits to Saudi Arabia. The first was in June 2014 for nine days to perform umrah—also known as the lesser pilgrimage. The second was for performing the hajj in 2013. He came from the United Arab Emirates, entered the kingdom on Oct. 1 and left on Oct. 20.
Ms. Malik entered Saudi Arabia twice with a Pakistani passport to visit family, a spokesman for the Saudi interior ministry said.
The first visit was in July 2008 coming from Pakistan. She stayed for nine weeks before returning to Pakistan. The second visit was in June 2013, again coming from Pakistan. She entered the kingdom on June 8 and left for India on Oct. 6 before the start of the hajj, according to the Saudi official.
