EDM Saturday Briefing: San Bernardino Update, Bangladesh Bomb Blasts, Chennai Flooding Update

Emergency and Disaster Management Saturday Briefing for December 5, 2015: San Bernardino Update, Bangladesh Bomb Blasts, Chennai Flooding, Suspicious Boston Suitcase

San Bernardino Update:

As Community Mourns, Shooting Investigated As Act of Terrorism

While the community mourns the loss of fourteen people, the FBI has reported it is now investigating the [link url=”http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/12/04/458464907/alleged-san-bernardino-attacker-pledged-allegiance-to-isis” title=”San Bernardino case as terrorism“], however [link url=”http://abcnews.go.com/International/female-san-bernardino-shooter-tashfeen-malik/story?id=35589386″ title=”ties to other groups have not yet been found”].  The [link url=”http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/12/02/us/california-mass-shooting-san-bernardino.html” title=”motive is still unclear“], according to reports, and authorities continue to try to put all the pieces together.

Picture Released of Suspected Female Shooter

A photo has been released of the [link url=”http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/12/04/458464907/alleged-san-bernardino-attacker-pledged-allegiance-to-isis” title=”suspected female shooter, Tashfeen Malik, 27“], who reportedly pledged allegiance to terrorist leader [link url=”http://www.cbsnews.com/news/san-bernardino-shooting-inland-regional-center-investigation-act-of-terrorism-fbi/” title=”Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi on Facebook“] under an alternate name on the day of the shooting.  Malik underwent [link url=”http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/05/us/for-woman-in-shooting-easy-passage-through-us-visa-process.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=thumb&module=b-lede-package-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0″ title=”national security and criminal background checks”] for the K-1 visa that allowed her to enter the country, and later, her green card.

Bomb Blasts Injure 6 in Bangladesh

A Hindu [link url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-bangladesh-gathering-bomb-idUSKBN0TO05K20151205#JUyfrVBcH8RTycoQ.97″ title=”religious gathering was a recent target for violence today“], when bomb blasts injured ten people, at least three of them critically.  According to reports, [link url=”http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bomb-attack-on-hindu-religious-gathering-in-bangladesh/1/539359.html” title=”six of those injured were transported to Dinajpur Medical College and Hospital“].  The temple’s priest had recently received threats discouraging the organization of any religious gatherings.

 Chennai Flooding Causes More Deaths, But Power Coming Back

Authorities report that [link url=”http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/18-die-india-hospital-floods-cut-off-power-35594264″ title=”flood waters reached generators“] at a local hospital, cutting off the power, which then shut down ventilators connected to patients in the intensive care unit, resulting in the deaths of eighteen people.  That brings the [link url=”http://www.cnbc.com/2015/12/05/chennai-floods-death-toll-rises-to-280.html” title=”death toll to more than 250 people“] as a result of the severe flooding over the past month.  According to reports, [link url=”http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35014446″ title=”power is slowly being restored“] as flood waters began to recede on Friday.

Suspicious Suitcase Blown Up By Police

On Friday, a suspicious suitcase was seen being dropped off in close proximity to a U.S. Coast Guard facility in Boston.    The individual who reportedly dropped the suitcase quickly left the area, prompting officials to call local authorities.  The suitcase was [link url=”http://news.yahoo.com/boston-police-bomb-squad-investigating-suspicious-package-spokeswoman-164036779.html” title=”blown up by police“] but reportedly had posed no threat.