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San Bernardino shooting: Police kill two suspects after hunt San Bernardino shooting: Police kill two suspects after hunt
(34 minutes later)
Two heavily armed suspects - one male and one female - have been killed by police after a mass shooting in California left 14 people dead. Police in California have named two suspects killed after a mass shooting which left 14 people dead at a social services centre.
Police named the dead suspects as US-born Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, a county employee, and Tashfeen Malik, 27. The man and woman, Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and Tashfeen Malik, 27, were killed in an exchange of fire with police.
Officers opened fire at a black SUV, earlier identified as the getaway vehicle, killing both suspects inside. Farook had been a county employee for five years, San Bernadino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said.
Hours earlier, gunmen opened fire during a holiday party at a San Bernardino community centre. The attack took place at an office event on Wednesday. None of the victims has been identified.
The incident marks the deadliest mass shooting in the US since 26 people were killed at a school in Newton, Connecticut in 2012. The incident marks the deadliest mass shooting in the US since 26 people were killed at a school in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012.
Police said the two dead suspects were armed with assault rifles and handguns and wearing "assault-style clothing". The Inland Regional Center in San Bernadino specialises in helping adults with disabilities and mental health problems, but the shooting appeared to be unrelated to the patients.
The FBI is not ruling out the possibility of terrorism but the situation is still being investigated. Mr Burguan, who said another 17 people were wounded, said police were "reasonably confident" that there were just two shooters.
Authorities found three possible explosive devices at the Inland Regional Center, where the shooting took place. Both suspects were killed in their vehicle after a shoot-out with police involving 20 officers. A tip-off had earlier led police to a house in nearby Redlands.
The dead man and woman were believed to be a couple, the police chief said. They were armed with assault rifles and semi-automatic handguns and wore military-style clothing.
One police officer was injured, but his injuries are not life threatening.
Three possible explosive devices were found at the Inland Regional Center, where the shooting took place.
Mr Burguan said that Farook had left the event - which was possibly a holiday party for employees or a meeting - "under some circumstances that were described as angry," and returned with Malik.
Earlier, the FBI said it was not ruling out the possibility of terrorism but the situation was still being investigated.
San Bernardino is a city of about 200,000 people, 60 miles (100 km) east of Los Angeles.San Bernardino is a city of about 200,000 people, 60 miles (100 km) east of Los Angeles.
At the scene: James Cook, BBC News, Los Angeles correspondentAt the scene: James Cook, BBC News, Los Angeles correspondent
As darkness fell, San Bernardino felt more like a warzone than a city in California. For much of the day the air had been alive with the sound of sirens, helicopters and, at times, gunfire.As darkness fell, San Bernardino felt more like a warzone than a city in California. For much of the day the air had been alive with the sound of sirens, helicopters and, at times, gunfire.
Outside the social services centre where the shooting began, the wounded were treated on a street which resembled a field hospital.Outside the social services centre where the shooting began, the wounded were treated on a street which resembled a field hospital.
Suddenly paramilitary-style police, explosives experts and ambulances took off in a wail of noise. They were racing to the scene of a gun battle with the suspects.Suddenly paramilitary-style police, explosives experts and ambulances took off in a wail of noise. They were racing to the scene of a gun battle with the suspects.
For this city, it has been a day of panic and chaos, as people struggle to cope with America's worst mass shooting in three years. By one measure though there has been more than one mass shooting on average every day this year. For this city, it has been a day of panic and chaos, as people struggle to cope with America's worst mass shooting in three years. By one measure though, there has been more than one mass shooting on average every day this year.
In that respect this was just another day in the United States of America.In that respect this was just another day in the United States of America.
At around 11:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday, at least one shooter opened fire at the social services centre. Hundreds of people were evacuated as police officers swept through the massive complex and into the residential area. At around 11:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday, the shooting began at the social services centre. Hundreds of people were evacuated as police officers swept through the massive complex and into the residential area.
Others locked themselves in rooms waiting for police to arrive.Others locked themselves in rooms waiting for police to arrive.
"People shot. In the office waiting for cops. Pray for us. I am locked in an office," Terry Petit's daughter texted him from inside the centre."People shot. In the office waiting for cops. Pray for us. I am locked in an office," Terry Petit's daughter texted him from inside the centre.
The Inland Regional Center specialises in helping adults with disabilities and mental health problems, but the shooting appeared to be unrelated to the patients.
Up to 17 people were wounded.
'Came prepared'
The attack took place in a conference area where the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health was holding a social event, said Maybeth Field, the centre's president.The attack took place in a conference area where the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health was holding a social event, said Maybeth Field, the centre's president.
"They came prepared to do what they did, as if they were on a mission," San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said. Farook, who was born in the US, worked for the county as an environmental health specialist, police said. They had no information on whether he had a criminal record, nor further details on Malik.
Police launched a manhunt saying they were looking for up to three suspects who had fled in a black SUV. Colleagues told the Los Angeles Times that Farook had travelled to Saudi Arabia and returned with a new wife. The couple had a young baby, they said.
Hours later police raided an apartment complex in the nearby town of Redlands, the black SUV pulled away and a chase ensued.
Then just two miles from the centre, police riddled the vehicle with gunfire killing the two suspects inside. One police officer was injured.
A third person near the gun battle was detained, but police said it was unclear if that person had anything to do with the shooting.
The mass shooting comes just days after three people were killed at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic.The mass shooting comes just days after three people were killed at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic.
US President Barack Obama said in response to the shooting: "One thing we do know is that we have a pattern of mass shootings in this country that has no parallel anywhere in the world.US President Barack Obama said in response to the shooting: "One thing we do know is that we have a pattern of mass shootings in this country that has no parallel anywhere in the world.
"There are some steps that we could take, not to eliminate all incidents, but to make sure they happen less frequently.""There are some steps that we could take, not to eliminate all incidents, but to make sure they happen less frequently."
Are you in the area? Did you witness the shooting? If you have any information you wish to share with BBC News, you can do so by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukAre you in the area? Did you witness the shooting? If you have any information you wish to share with BBC News, you can do so by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
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