FBI Probes Whether Farook Was Linked To A Convicted Terrorist
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The FBI is investigating whether there was a link between one of the killers in the San Bernardino terror attack and a convicted terrorist, who was a jihadist recruiter, authorities said.
Federal agents believe Syed Farook may have been connected to Sohiel Omar Kabir, 34 - a native Afghani who became a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Kabir is one of four men arrested in 2012 and charged with plotting to blow up a U.S. military base in Afghanistan. Kabir was convicted and is now is serving 25 years in prison after being arrested in Afghanistan. The other three men were arrested after agents raided an Upland home.
Investigators said Farook was in the same social circle as Kabir and may have come into contact with him.
"It would be irresponsible for us to not look into any potential connections," said David Bowdich, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles office. "We don't know all those connections yet. There may be connections that are multiple degrees of separation. We've got to find that out. I am not prepared to discuss that point. I just don't have all the answers."
The FBI has confirmed that Farook's longtime friend and former neighbor, Enrique Marquez, bought the two assault rifles that Farook and his wife used in the massacre on Dec. 2.
Federal agents said they have questioned Marquez but have not arrested him. CBS2/KCAL9's Dave Lopez spoke to an attorney about building a case against Marquez and why he is not under arrest.