American Muslim organizations have said they are “appalled” at Wednesday’s mass shooting that killed at least 14 in San Bernardino, California, after a local Muslim couple, later killed in a shootout with police, was identified as suspect but motive behind the rampage killings remains unknown.
The suspects were not known to be on any watch list or under law enforcement radar and investigators are trying to determine whether it was a workplace violence or an act of terror. Another 21 persons were injured on the scene at Inland Regional Center, a facility for developmentally disabled.
President Barack Obama made a statement Thursday, saying the motive for massacre remains unknown but did not discount any possibility. His remarks indicated the killing rampage may have a mixed motive of workplace violence or terrorist shooting. At the same time, the president asked people to wait for outcome of the ongoing probe before making any judgement and pledged to get to the bottom of what actually transpired. San Bernardino Police Chief and FBI official in charge of the investigation Thursday told media that they continue to investigate the tragic shooting.
Reports say San Bernardino County Sheriff and the San Bernardino Police Department later identified the suspects as Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, a U.S.-born environmental specialist for San Bernardino County, and his wife Tashfeen Malik, 27, of Pakistani origin about whom very little is on record. The two were gunned down four hours later on a street, two miles away from the crime scene.
According to media accounts, Farook had gone to attend a party at the Center but soon stormed out of the place in anger. The nature of the dispute was not clear, but when he returned with his wife, both of them were dressed in tactical gear and carrying assault rifles, officials said.
The killing spree has also raised questions about gun control issues and availability of weapons, as it follows a string of gun attacks this year in various parts of the United States. According to Voxdotcom, America has experienced an estimated 1042 mass shootings since the 2012 Sandy Hood Massacre.
Pakistani-Americans, meanwhile, voiced their strong condemnation of the violence and mourned the loss of lives, joining Muslim communities on the social media in their denunciation of all forms of violence and terror.
“We, the members of the Pakistani American Congress (PAC) are deeply saddened for the attacks and killings that occurred at the Inland Regional Center —- It further hurts us to no bounds that the ethnicity of the killers was somewhere and somehow linked to our motherland, Pakistan,” Manny Alam, President PAC said in a statement, while urging the U.S.-Pakistan cooperation against the cancer of innocent killings.
The Pakistani embassy in Washington also conveyed condolences to the families and friends of the victims of San Bernardino shooting incident.
“The Embassy also conveys its deepest sympathies for those who have been injured in the incident and wish them an early recovery from their physical and mental trauma — In this hour of grief the people of Pakistan, being worst victims of terrorism over the years, also offer their prayers and sympathies with the people of the United States and stand by them in their pain and suffering,” the embassy said in a statement.
The Islamic Circle of North America also issued a statement condoling the loss of lives with families of victims.
“Once again we hope for peace and stability in our society and we thank our law enforcement agencies for the quick response in stopping any further violence. “As the investigations are still ongoing, we remind the American Muslim community to be extra vigilant and to immediately report any suspicious activity to the law enforcement agencies, the statement added.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations chapter in greater Los Angeles area has also condemned the shooting. CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said in a statement that the Muslim community “stands shoulder to shoulder with our fellow Americans in repudiating any twisted mindset that would claim to justify such sickening acts of violence.”
The civil liberties and advocacy organization says its mission is to encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties as well as build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
