The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) held a press conference Wednesday night to address the mass shooting that left 14 people dead at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California.
CAIR executive director, Hussam Ayloush said, “We unequivocally condemn the horrific act that occurred today.”
Muzammil Siddiqi, a religious director with the Islamic Society of Orange County, said “we have condemned all violence, everywhere” and urged people to “not implicate Islam or Muslims” at large for the attack. Siddiqi said “our faith has nothing to do with [the shooting], our faith is against this kind of behavior.”
The organization arranged the press conference Wednesday night after authorities identified two suspects believed to have been involved in the massacre.
Syed Rizwan Farook, a 28-year-old US citizen, and Tashfeen Malik, 27, both died during a shootout with police, less than two miles from where the mass shooting happened.
Farhan Khan, Farook’s brother-in-law, said ” Why would he do something like this? I have absolutely no idea. I am in shock myself.”
FBI officials investigating the Inland Regional Center shooting have suggested the incident could be considered an act of domestic terrorism — though no such classification has been made official.
San Bernardino police Chief Jarrod Burguan said that investigators were also looking into whether the shooting was connected to a workplace dispute.
Farook was a 5-year veteran of San Bernardino County’s health department where he was employed as an inspector. He allegedly left the company event at the Inland Regional Center Wednesday “under circumstances that were described as angry,” Burguan said.
Minutes later, gunfire erupted, and dozens of people scrambled for cover.