The Pakistani woman who joined her U.S.-born husband in killing 14 people in a commando-style assault on his co-workers is at the center of a massive FBI terrorism investigation, yet she remains shrouded in mystery.
The FBI acknowledges knowing little about Tashfeen Malik. Those who attended mosque with her husband, Syed Farook, say they know nearly nothing about her. Even Farook's mother, who lived with the couple and their 6-month-old daughter, knows little, according to attorneys for Farook's family.
The lawyers yesterday described the 27-year-old as "just a housewife" who was quiet like her husband and strictly followed Muslim custom. She wore traditional clothing that covered her face so her male relatives didn't even know what she looked like, according to the lawyers.
Authorities say she wore a combat-style outfit Wednesday, when she and Farook attacked a holiday luncheon in San Bernardino, California. A few hours later, they were killed in a shootout with police.
The FBI announced yesterday it is investigating the mass shooting as an act of terrorism. If proven to be terrorism, it would be the deadliest attack by Islamic extremists on American soil since Sept. 11, 2001.
A U.S. Law enforcement official said Malik used a Facebook alias to pledge her allegiance to the Islamic State group and its leader just before the shootings. The official was not authorized to discuss the case publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
FBI Director James Comey would not discuss whether anyone affiliated with IS communicated back, but he said there was no indication yet that the plot was directed by any other foreign terror group, or that the couple was part of a larger group. Despite signs of the couple's radicalization, there "is a lot of evidence that doesn't quite make sense" at this early stage, he said.
An Islamic State-affiliated news service called Malik and Farook "supporters" of their Islamist cause but stopped short of claiming responsibility for the attack.
The Farook family attorneys, Chesley and Mohammad Abuershaid, said none of his relatives had any indication either Farook or his wife held extremist views.
"If the most evidence there is to any affiliation is a Facebook account under another person's name ... Then that's hardly anything at all," Chesley said.
The Farook family attorneys said he told relatives he had been teased at work about his beard.
In Pakistan, a relative of Malik said she apparently became a more zealous follower of the Muslim faith about three years ago.
