The Islamic State group on Saturday hailed the couple who killed 14 people in a mass shooting in California, and called them soldiers of its caliphate. The militant group released a radio-broadcast praising United States-born Syed Rizwan Farooq and his Pakistani wife Tashfeen Malik, who began shooting at a holiday party for civil servants in San Bernadino, 100 km south of Los Angeles. The couple was later gunned down by the police.

Twenty one people were injured in the attack. The IS’ radio broadcast called the duo “supporters of the Islamic State” and said they were “killed in the path of Allah”. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident to see if it was an act of terrorism. President Barack Obama will address the nation on Sunday to update the public on the investigation. Obama on Saturday reiterated his call for stronger gun control laws.