Report: San Bernardino shooter passed background checks

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Tashfeen Malik, who carried out the San Bernardino massacre along with her husband, reportedly passed three background checks before moving to the United States.

The New York Times reported Sunday that Malik had posted comments in support of jihad openly on social media. But the Times later revised the story and added an editor's note to include information from FBI Director James Comey that the messages had been private.

Immigration officials don't usually review social media posts as part of background checks and most of the process is spent on vetting against marriage fraud.

Malik moved from Pakistan to the United States on a fiancee visa. She was first vetted by the Department of Homeland Security, which checked her name against law enforcement and national security databases. The Department of State then reviewed her fingerprints against other databases and she was thoroughly reviewed once more after she applied for a green card.

Federal investigators believe Farook and Malik were in the final stages of planning a bigger attack, possibly at a nearby school or college, to include more victims. Investigators said the Dec. 2 shooting that left 14 dead and 21 injured at a county health department holiday party may have been a rehearsal for a bigger attack, explaining why the couple had thousands of rounds of ammunition and bombmaking materials at their home.

Authorities also said Farook and Malik had been practicing their shooting skills at a local gun range for more than a year before the attack. Officials said Farook and another man had planned an earlier attack but "got spooked" and backed out after unrelated terror arrests in the area.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story contained incorrect information about Malik's messages on social media.