San Bernardino shooting: We weren't taught this, say suspect's sisters

While expressing anguish, two sisters of suspect Syed Rizwan Farook, said they saw no warning signs that he and his wife were preparing for the deadly attack

San Francisco: Baffled by the actions of her brother, one of the sisters of Syed Rizwan Farook, the Pakistani-American man suspected of the mass shooting in the US state of California, says the terrible incident was "the very opposite of what we were taught".

People offer condolences during a memorial service at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in California. Pic/AFP

Saira Khan and Eba Farook, the two sisters of Syed Rizwan Farook, expressed anguish at the tragedy. They said they had seen no warning that 28-year-old Farook and his wife, Tashfeen, 27, were preparing for a deadly assault at a centre for people with disabilities in San Bernadino.

"It’s the very opposite of what we were taught," Eba said. Both Eba and Saira said they were baffled by what had
happened.

‘Not ashamed’
Asked if she felt shame, Eba said, "I am not ashamed to be a Muslim. I am not ashamed to be an American either, and I am not ashamed to be a Pakistani either. I think shame is for people who feel guilty about something."

Eba (24) said she had watched the tragedy unfold on TV in fear, knowing that her brother was part of a day-long gathering at the Inland Regional Center, where the attack took place.

‘Want to raise child’
Eba said she and her husband intended to adopt the couple’s 6-month-old daughter, whom they had left with their  mother before embarking on the rampage. The police have said the child was taken into custody by the federal authorities, and that there would be a hearing soon on the issue of temporary custody.

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