California shooting: US Muslim, Arab communities fear backlash

Details emerged that a Muslim couple was responsible for the shooting in California that killed 14 people

Members of the Arab and Muslim communities in the US has said they feared a backlash, as details emerged of the Muslim couple who shot dead 14 people in California.

One organisation will meet officials with the Department of Homeland Security today to assess safety measures after the attack that left 14 dead and 21 injured in San Bernardino, a city about an hour's drive east of Los Angeles with a large Arab and Muslim population.

"There absolutely is a fear that there could be a backlash and that's the reality we live in," said Abed Ayoub, legal and policy director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, a civil rights group that will hold the talks.
 

Ayoub said that while there had been no reports of attacks in retaliation for the armed assault Wednesday by Syed Farook, 28, and his wife Tashfeen Malik, 27, it was essential for the community to remain vigilant.

"We need to stay cautious given the atmosphere and what happened in Paris a few weeks ago and the fallout from that," he said, referring to the terror attacks in France that left 130 people dead and were claimed by the extremist Islamic State group.

Muslim leaders and residents in San Bernardino reacted to Wednesday's shootings at a disabled center in the city with shock and disbelief.

CNN quoted law enforcement officials as saying Farook had become radicalized and had contact with known terrorism suspects overseas.

However, the imam at the mosque that Farook attended denied that.

"We never saw a sign of radicalisation," Mahmood Nadvi, 39, an imam at the Dar Al Uloom Al Islamiyah mosque in San Bernardino, told AFP.

"If someone becomes nuts, you don't represent the religion anymore."

He said the mosque had received a threatening message on its voicemail hours after the attack and has asked police to provide additional security ahead of Friday prayers.

Gasser Shehata, 42, said he was convinced Farook's actions were linked to a work-related dispute -- which is one line police are looking at -- rather than his religious beliefs.

"You can't believe he did that for the sake of Islam," he said. "He was calm, shy, reserved. I've never seen him disrespect someone.

"He was living the American dream, he was married, he had a daughter and last year he won $77,000. He had everything to be happy."

Muslim officials in San Bernardino said a prayer vigil would be held at the mosque later Thursday to honor the victims.