California shooters had 'target practice'

US-born Syed Farook and his Pakistani wife, Tashfeen Malik, had taken target practice at shooting ranges in the Los Angeles area a few days before the massacre at San Bernardino, David Bowdich, the FBI's assistant director in Los Angeles, told reporters on Monday.

"As the investigation has progressed, we have learned and believe that both subjects were radicalized and have been for quite some time," he said.

However, there was no proof that any terror group outside the US was involved. "I want to be crystal clear here: We do not see any evidence so far of ... an outside-continental-US plot. We may find it someday, we may not. We don't know," Bowdich added.

Meanwhile, the FBI would continue to seek a motive for the attack, with detectives suspecting the couple had been planning more violence after a cache of ammunition and bombs was found in their home. Investigators were looking into the mass shooting as an "act of terrorism" after Farook's wife allegedly pledged allegiance to the head of the "Islamic State" on Facebook.

The FBI's latest statement came as San Bernardino County employees returned to work under tighter security, five days after the massacre on December 2.

28-year-old Farook and his wife, 29-year-old Malik, had left their daughter at home that day and headed toward the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, where Farook's colleagues had gathered for a year-end party.

Armed with assault rifles, the couple rained bullets on the crowd, killing 14 and wounding 21 others.

mg/jr (Reuters, AFP)