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Obama calls California shootings 'act of terror'

Obama calls California shootings 'act of terror'
Posted at 10:44 AM, Dec 05, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-05 13:44:24-05

President Barack Obama says this week's deadly California shootings were "an act of terror" carried out by attackers who were possibly radicalized to commit it.

The president's comments came during his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday, a day after the FBI said it was investigating Wednesday's shootings as "an act of terrorism."

Obama says proven radicalization would underscore the threat posed by people who give in to violent extremist ideologies.

FBI Director James Comey (KOH'-mee) said evidence thus far indicates the shooters showed signs of radicalization but were not part of a broader terrorist network.

Several Republican presidential candidates had quickly labeled the shootings an act of terrorism and faulted Obama for not saying so immediately.

On Thursday, as investigators were searching for a motive, Obama said at the White House that the shootings could have been terrorist-related or workplace-related.