Officials say San Bernardino killer was planning attack in 2012

Syed Farook and an unnamed accomplice reportedly "got spooked" and did not go through with their attack plans.

By REUTERS
Updated: DECEMBER 9, 2015 04:37
Police vehicles line the street around a vehicle in which two suspects were shot following a mass shooting in San Bernardino, California (photo credit: REUTERS)
Police vehicles line the street around a vehicle in which two suspects were shot following a mass shooting in San Bernardino, California
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Investigators believe San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook may have been plotting an earlier attack in California with someone else, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing two US officials.
One of the officials told CNN the two conspired in 2012 and a specific target was considered. Neither of the officials could say how serious the plotting became.
According to the report, one official said the two decided not to go through with the earlier attack after a round of terror-related arrests in the area. "They got spooked," the official said.
CNN did not give the name of the other plotter.
Police believe Farook, an environmental inspector with the county health department, carried out the December 2 shooting, which left 14 people dead and 21 injured, at a holiday party for the department at the Inland Regional Center, a facility that provides services for thousands of people with disabilities.
Farook’s wife, Tashfeen Malik, participated in the shooting and had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in a Facebook post, police say. Both Malik and Farook were killed in a shootout with police.
Thalasinos’ Facebook page is also filled with postings supportive of Israel and highly critical of Islam and President Barack Obama.
Investigators found on Thursday that Farook had previously been in contact over the phone and online with individuals in the US and Europe who were on the FBI and intelligence sources’ terror watch list or who have been previously investigated for terrorist affiliations.