Americas

Americas

IS claim of latest US gun massacre caps year of danger signs

06 December 2015 02:06 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The Islamic State group's claim to have inspired this week's San Bernardino massacre raises the question of what kind of threat it poses after a year which has seen record numbers of alleged jihadists arrested in the United States, APA reports quoting AFP.

Much is unclear about the motivation of the young Muslim couple who allegedly attacked the husband's co-workers at a workplace holiday party in San Bernardino, California on Wednesday, killing 14.

But the FBI is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism after finding evidence that the pair were inspired by extremist ideology and may have made an online pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State group.

This came as a surprise to many as the nondescript target was not a symbolic site and the couple -- recent parents Syed Farook, 28, and Tashfeen Malik, 29 -- are not thought to have been on any watch list.

But perhaps the attack, which otherwise bore the usual hallmarks of the mass shootings that have become so common in the United States, should not have surprised?

Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens, head of research at the international Centre for the Study of Radicalization and Political Violence, told AFP trouble has been long brewing.

"Since at least 2010 jihadist strategists and ideologues have called on and inspired Muslims in the West to do one of two things: Either join a jihadist group fighting abroad or, if they are going to stay in the countries which are waging a supposed war on Islam, they should carry out attacks using any means at their disposal," he said.