Panic Hits California After San Bernardino Shooting

FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images
Adelle Nazarian

Wednesday’s terrorist attack at the San Bernardino-based Inland Regional Center for developmentally disabled adults struck panic in the hearts of residents across the Golden State.

Across California, the emergency resulted in the closure of several businesses, including the amplification of security in many places.

Ironically, the shooting carried out by “devout Muslim” Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and his wife Tashfeen Malik, 27, took place the same day that Fresno police conducted a “site survey” inspection of a local business to prepare for the possibility of incidents similar to what actually took place on Wednesday.

“Any facility can be a potential target,” Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said, according to the Sacramento Bee. “We want to be in that prevention mode all the time, but also be ready to respond to these types of incidents.” The Bee notes that additional security initially was brought in at the Central Valley Regional Center and that officials decided to close the center for the day out of “an abundance of caution.”

Schools in San Bernardino District were also placed on lockdown.

Other centers for the developmentally disabled statewide were also on lockdown and high alert following the attack, which claimed 14 lives and left 17 people injured.

Local ABC News affiliate in the region ABC 10 reported that San Diego Regional Center offices in Kearny Mesa, Carlsbad, Santee and National City will remain closed on Thursday in response to the mass terrorist shooting. The closure is expected to be lifted by Friday.

Former CIA case officer Robert Baer, speaking on CNN Wednesday evening, said the most “disturbing” aspect of the shooting is that it was carried out using tactics that are employed in the Middle East. “What I don’t like about this shooting is multiple shooters… IEDs… I say this very reluctantly, but this has the hallmarks of the sort of attacks you see in the Middle East.” His assertions were backed up by FBI special agent Robert Chacon.

On Thursday, San Bernardino Department Chief Jarrod Burguan said the pipe bomb that was found near the scene of the crime was actually three pipe bombs attached together and tied to a remote-controlled car. It is unclear whether the duo was planning another attack “but we intercepted them” before that possibility, Burguan told the media.

Also on Thursday, CNN broke news that there are international terrorist links to Wednesday’s attacks:

Follow Adelle Nazarian on Twitter @AdelleNaz and on Facebook.

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