Yes, john. Syed rizwan farook, and someone else may have been plotting an earlier attack in california according to two u. S. Officials that we have been speaking with, and the two conspired back in 2012 and specific target was even considered. They e scoped out the area, and picked out a target, but neither of the officials could say how serious the plotting got, and how far along they were in launching the attack. The two decided not the go through with it after a round of terrorrelated arrests in that area sayinging they were spooked at the time, and this is bolstering the belief, john, that Law Enforcement has been saying publicly that farook was radicalized for a period of time before the San Bernardino attacks, and we are also learning from officials that the two, that farook and his friend had been conspiring to do bad thing, and that is a direct quote from the officials, and they have discovered the extent of the plans following the San Bernardino attacks as we have been hearin
Worry about attacks and why terrorists are harder to track than ever. It is very difficult for us to detect lone wolf plots or plots involving a husband and wife. Its not that different from us trying to detect the next shooter. The president s comments are the latest in a series aimed at reassuring americans his isis strategy is working. He made no mention about reports that he admitted he had been slow to recognize the fear in the country following the paris and San Bernardino attacks. Our senior White House Correspondent jim acosta is outfront live in washington. Jim, the president reportedly admitting in an offtherecord meeting with columnists that his messaging on isis wasnt strong enough, that he had wished he had been more forceful and more quick. But today it didnt sound like he said anything different. Reporter thats right, erin. You heard the president say once again today that the u. S. Led coalition will continue to hit isis harder than ever. Well continue to go after its l
Learned . We first told you about the attacks that marquez and farook wanted to do something in 2012. Now we are learning how disturbing the plots were. Syed farook and his friend Enrique Marquez planned to use pipe bombs for an attack at Riverside Community college where they were students, targeting the library and cafeteria area. They wanted to maximize casualties and they planned to start this attack by throwing pipe bombs into the cafeteria from an elevated position on the second floor and they planned a rush hour attack on a major highway where they would throw pipe bombs into cars and shoot into the stopped cars and kill people. Very disturbing. I understand there was a dispute in the doj even to bring this terrorism charge, right . Thats right. My colleague scott glover and evan perez, we were told that this debate of whether or not to bring this terrorism charge today went into late last night. In fact it wasnt on the table 24 hours ago. And then within the last 24 hours it wa