1st LD Writethru: California Muslim community condemns mass shooting

The Muslim community in the U.S. state of California on Wednesday condemned the mass shooting that killed at least 14 people in San Bernardino, after a local Muslim man was widely identified as a suspect.

Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said its members "unequivocally condemn the horrific act that happened today."

"The Muslim community stands shoulder to shoulder with our fellow Americans in repudiating any twisted mindset that would claim to justify such sickening acts of violence," he said in a statement.

Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, was a U.S.-born county employee who had attended a holiday party at the Inland Regional Center, a social services agency, and later returned to open fire on the celebration at around 11:00 a.m. local time (1900 GMT).

His conspirator, Tashfeen Malik, 27, was a female. They were believed to be married or engaged.

Farook's brother-in-law, Farhan Kahn, said he was shocked by his brother's action, saying "I have no idea why he would do that...I am very sad that people lost their lives."

The New York Daily News tabloid quoted Farook's father as saying "he was very religious. He would go to work, come back, go to pray, come back. He's Muslim."

Both of the suspects had rifles and handguns. Their dark SUV which they drove to flee was found several hours later in the afternoon by police. After being chased for a while, they stopped and exchanged gunfire with police at a residential area several miles away from the shooting scene. Both of them were slain in the shootout with police.

San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said Farook and Malik were believed to be the only shooters involved in the rampage. Their motive remained unclear, and the factor of terrorism could not be ruled out, Burguan said. Endi