The FDNY Center for Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness briefing on the San Bernardino attack highlights several interesting targeting factors, including:
1)Ease of availability, not strategic importance, makes target attractive
1) Easily accessible, no security
2) Crowds of people present
3) Limited symbolic or strategic significance
Inland Regional Center as “Target of Opportunity”
1) Longtime work place of shooter = easy access and escape
2) Pre-attack surveillance, attack rehearsal easily facilitated.
3) Farook attended annual holiday gathering/meeting prior year
4) Other targets of opportunity discovered in investigation
5) Before meeting Malik, Farook planned attacks with a friend in 2012 Prior targets included: Farook’s former college and a nearby highway