Active pursuit of suspects under way with at least one confirmed ‘down’
Police say 14 people dead and 17 injured in mass shooting
Shooting happened at Inland Regional Center for people with disabilities
Video: Families recall frightened texts from relatives
Full report: Gunmen entered facility ‘as if on a mission’
1.27am GMT
After updating reporters on the condition of five shooting victims in this hospital, a spokeswoman for the Loma Linda University Medical Center said:
We’re all shaken by this. We’re all bothered by this.
I think we should all go home to our loved ones and understand this could happen anytime and we have to be prepared for it.
1.18am GMT
Seventeen people were wounded in the shooting at the Inland Regional Center and are being cared for in a number of hospitals.
Five of them – all adults – are being treated at the Loma Linda University Medical Center.
Loma Linda hospital PIO Briana Pastorino: 5 adult patients: 2 critical but stable, 2 fair, 1 under assessment pic.twitter.com/6RJjJPIX27
1.10am GMT
Associated Press has this latest from Redlands, just to the south-east of San Bernardino:
Police are serving a search warrant on a home in Redlands, California, in connection with the deadly shooting at a social services facility in neighbouring San Bernardino.
City spokesman Carl Baker says Redlands police are assisting San Bernardino police in the search connected to the Wednesday morning shooting that killed at least 14 people and wounded more than a dozen others.
1.08am GMT
The news conference with the San Bernardino police chief hasn’t yet started – it’s not unusual for these things to run late in such a dynamic unfolding situation.
I will bring you the latest as soon as it begins.
12.55am GMT
Local media reports that the lockdown on San Bernardino schools has been lifted. Staff and students are now being allowed to leave, and parents encouraged to pick up their children.
It’s not clear yet if this indicates that police believe the situation with the suspect(s) to be under control. We are still awaiting a news conference, which is imminent.
Correction: Victoria lock down lifted but parents not able to access school yet due to road closures. Will be a little bit longer...
12.45am GMT
We are expecting another news conference from the San Bernardino police chief, Jarrod Burguan, in about five minutes. We’ll have live updates on this blog.
12.39am GMT
The Association of Regional Center Agencies – Inland Regional Center, site of today’s shooting, was part of its network – has put out a statement.
There are no known threats against other any locations, it says, but eight centres closed early as a precautionary measure.
What we do have are heavy hearts, knowing innocent lives were cut short.
Regional centers connect families and people with developmental disabilities to services and supports. They are places of connection and community.
A statement by the Association of Regional Center Agencies on today's shoot ring at Inland Regional. #SanBernardino pic.twitter.com/Pj6Ek9UQQC
12.36am GMT
Police say two suspects have been “dealt with” and one is “down”. Sgt Vicki Cervantes told reporters that one suspect was shot in a battle with officers, but could not confirm if that suspect had died.
The dark SUV with shattered windows remains on a residential street surrounded by armoured police vehicles.
12.31am GMT
The governor of California, Jerry Brown, has issued a statement:
California will spare no effort in bringing these killers to justice.
12.25am GMT
This is Claire Phipps picking up the live blog for continuing coverage.
Police are warning residents of San Bernardino to stay indoors:
Residents in the area of south of SB Ave and west of Mtn View should shelter in place, police activity continues.
We are asking that all people in the SB area south of San Bernardino Ave east of Mt. View stay in their homes w/doors locked & secure.
12.19am GMT
11.59pm GMT
The LA Times justice and FBI reporter, Rick Serrano:
caiif mass shooting: police chief confirms the county group meeting was targeted, not the health center.
11.46pm GMT
In a residential area two miles east of the shooting site, at least three Swat vehicles have surrounded a black SUV where one suspect is believed to have been killed. According to NBC Bay Area news, which is broadcasting live pictures via helicopter, a second suspect is lying in the street.
11.39pm GMT
11.34pm GMT
There is an active scene unfolding in San Bernardino. Preliminary info is a suspect is down, officers are ok. Not confirmed if related.
11.34pm GMT
Sgt Vicki Cervantes, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino police, has told reporters there are now at least 17 people being treated for injuries.
She said that as far as police know there are 14 people dead.
11.31pm GMT
The bearcat trucks have crawled slightly closer to the disabled vehicle, parking along its front and back as officers crowd around behind the armored cars.
The officers appear to be looking for an angle to see into the darkly colored SUV, whose windows were blown out by bullets.
Shots fired, suspect down; unknown if related to San Bernardino shooting per @SanBernardinoPD PIO. All officers ok! pic.twitter.com/cKrBumBxKD
11.28pm GMT
San Bernadino police have confirmed an “active scene” with more gunfire which appears to have broken out in the last hour, to far from where the shooting took place four hours ago.
Local TV reports show a dark SUV-type building parked beside a suburban road, jammed between two Swat vehicles, minutes after reports of an outbreak of gunfire.
11.26pm GMT
Update from San Bernadino Police Department, Sgt Vicki Cervantes:
11.25pm GMT
Three armored cars are approaching the disabled SUV, which stands near an exposed police car. Heavily armed officers have taken up position behind the bearcats, weapons pointed toward the SUV.
A large rifle lies on the street between the various vehicles. Police spokesperson Vicki Cervantes has just confirmed that the standoff is an active shooter situation.
11.24pm GMT
11.23pm GMT
11.21pm GMT
There appears to be at least one person lying prone at the disabled SUV, which footage shows to be shot through with bullet holes.
Dozens of officers in small teams have gathered at a distance around the car, whose windshields were smashed out with gunshots. The SUV’s driver-side and passenger door are hanging open.
11.17pm GMT
San Bernadino Mayor R Carey Davis said in a statement that the community has experienced “severe loss and severe shock today” and praised the response of the fire department and other agencies.
“It is critical that in moments like these, our City unites in supporting the victims, their families, and the effort against crime in our City. We will continue to utilize all safety resources available to the San Bernadino community to deal with this tragedy.
11.16pm GMT
Police have disabled a black SUV and have surrounded it with armored cars and cruisers – they do not know whether the suspect car is related to the shooting but shots have been fired.
Separately they have stopped one man in a parking lot after he tried to flee on foot. They similarly do not know whether this suspect has any relation to the shooting.
Five police cars just blazes past at high speed. Reports of someone being chased in Target car park. pic.twitter.com/p5ZpheFgbd
11.11pm GMT
Police are pursuing dark SUVs in the roads and highways in the San Bernardino area, but do not know whether any of the cars are related to the shooting.
#SanBernardino police chasing multiple reports of black SUVs tired to the shooting. Latest report of one spotted in Redlands.
@JerryBrownGov cancels annual CA Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony today because of tragic shooting in #SanBernardino
10.53pm GMT
A bleak update from Rob McMillan of local ABC7 news, who’s heard what police implied during their press conference almost an hour ago.
Cops say they have no idea on location of suspects. They could be miles away, they could still be in the building.
10.46pm GMT
A witness to the shooting’s aftermath has described a “nightmare” of death, flight and fear to my colleague Rory Carroll, who is in San Bernardino.
Alex Vasquez, an NBC4 cameraman who was driving nearby when a call from his newsdesk redirected him to the scene, said he had arrived as shooting still resounded through the building.
‘They were the last shots fired,’ he said, speaking hours later a mile from the scene.
'I saw a woman take her last breath.' Alex Vasquez, NBC cameraman who arrived while shots were still being fired. pic.twitter.com/LUkPXOK5JS
10.43pm GMT
Connecticut senator Chris Murphy, one of the most outspoken advocates for gun control in Congress, has released a statement on the shooting, which is the worst mass shooting since a gunman killed 26 people at a school in his state in 2012.
My heart aches for the people of San Bernardino. I cannot express the profound sadness I feel each time a new community grieves and endures the same pain that brought Newtown to its knees three years ago this month.
“As we await the facts from the chaos on the ground, I can only pray that America’s leaders will do something – anything – that prevents more communities from knowing this sorrow.
10.37pm GMT
Police have a provided a destination for family to reunite with relatives who were trapped inside the Regional Center and then evacuated by school bus away from the complex.
The Hernandez Center on Third and Sierra Way has been set up for family members to go for information #SanBernardino
10.30pm GMT
San Bernardino county police have asked the public to call with information about the three suspects believed to have attacked the Inland Regional Center.
The suspects may have left in a darkly colored SUV, police said, and used “long guns”.
The public can call 1 866 346 7632 if they have any information or leads on the #ActiveShooter incident in #SanBernadino @SanBernardinoPD
10.23pm GMT
San Bernardino police and an FBI official held a press conference about the shooting at the Inland Regional Center.
10.13pm GMT
My colleague Rory Carroll is on the scene in San Bernardino, where the press conference has just ended.
'No information at this point that it was a terrorist act.' pic.twitter.com/O9DJKiGIEJ
10.11pm GMT
“I’m just going to say it was a long gun, not a handgun,” Burguan says when asked about the weapons of the gunmen.
“They came in with a purpose, they came in with an intent.”
10.09pm GMT
Burguan answers a questions about why federal investigators are already
“We have no information at this point to indicated that this is terrorism … in the traditional sense”, he says. But since investigations “can turn into a potential federal prosecution type thing,” he says the county asked for federal assistance immediately.
10.07pm GMT
Burguan says that he has heard reports of as many as three suspects that have fled the scene, but that the situation remains “fluid” and that information could still change as the investigation continues.
He says that police are at a “heightened state of alert and “we would ask the public that they would be at a heightened sense of alert.”
10.06pm GMT
A reporter asks about explosive technicians who are on the site.
“As the teams were going through and searching … there were some things in the building that were not immediately identifiable,” Burguan says.
“As a result of that we do have some bomb techs on site … we do not know if they were brought in by the suspects … just things that as our teams were moving through said ‘that needs to be looked at a little more closely.’”
10.03pm GMT
“I do not have any information that any children were involved,” Burguan says when asked about possible patients at the treatment center developmental disability center.
“They were dressed in a way that indicated they were prepared,” Burguan says of the suspects, after a question about reports that they were wearing body armor.
10.02pm GMT
“It was a meeting to like a luncthime gathering, maybe for the holidays … it’s my understanding that most of the people that were wounded, most of the victims, were all centrally located in the facility.”
10.01pm GMT
An FBI spokesman takes the microphone briefly, saying agents are on hand “essentially to assure that all the wounded are extracted,” and make sure that the people are safe.
“I will tell you right now we do not know if this is a terrorist incident,” he says.
10.00pm GMT
“We do not have any identification of who these suspects are,” Burguan concludes, saying that officers continue tos sweep through the area in search of victims and suspects.
“That search is still ongoing,” Sheriff John McMahon continues. He says that police are working with the school district, coordinating with the city’s board of supervisors. “We will work together to investigate this case once the scene is secure.”
9.58pm GMT
The San Bernardino sherrif’s department is holding a press conference.
County chief Jarrod Burguan begins. “This originally started off at 11 this morning, we received a call at the Inland Regional center.”
What we have so far is information to the effect that up to three people had entered the building and opened fire on the people in the building. We have preliminary numbers of upwards of 14 people that are dead and up to 14 people that are injured.
9.55pm GMT
At least 10 people total were injured and are being treated at area hospitals, county officials say. Loma Linda Medical Center has four patients so far, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center has six; spokespeople for both have said they expect more.
6 patients being treated @ArrowheadRMC per San Bernardino County officials pic.twitter.com/jfqomagiHx
9.51pm GMT
Father Terry Pettit recounts the text his daughter sent inside the Inland Regional Center when the shooting began: “‘Shooting at my work. People shot. In the office waiting for cops. Pray for us. I am locked in an office.’”
9.48pm GMT
Barack Obama has remarked on the shooting during a previously planned interview with CBS News, saying: “It does appear that there are going to be some casualties, and obviously our hearts go out to the victims and the families.”
He continued: “We have a pattern now of mass shootings in this country which has no parallel anywhere in the world.”
FBI responding to shooting in San Bernardino w/resources to assist partners. SB has lead. Will provide add'l info as situation develops.
9.42pm GMT
There are “possibly 12” fatalities, an official at the San Bernardino county sheriff’s office has told my colleague Nicky Woolf.
Asked to elaborate, the official said: “that’s all we’ve got”.
9.38pm GMT
President Obama has reiterated that there are too many shooting incidents in the US, commenting during an interview with CBS News filmed within the last hour.
Pres Obama says we have a pattern of mass shootings in the US that have no parallel anywhere else in the world. pic.twitter.com/YHwRPlMZop
Pres says he's waiting for more details, and he can't say who's responsible or why the shootings took place. Says FBI is at the scene.
9.31pm GMT
The event where the shooting began was intended to honor county officials, witnesses have told ABC’s Marc Brown.
“It’s a great agency and I don’t know why somebody would want to do this,” center worker Brandon Hunt said.
#BREAKING Witness tells us that an event honoring County personnel was going on in the conference center at IRC. Shooters entered there.
SWAT teams just drove past us at a high rate of speed.
9.24pm GMT
Police are taking witnesses away from the scene on school buses to an undisclosed “secure” location in order to interview them about the shooting.
Buses transporting #SanBernardino witnesses. Officers say they're being taken somewhere safe to get statements. pic.twitter.com/9jQNCrzQqB
Several soft targets all around #SanBernardino being locked down. Trains stopped. PD now headed to a mall. pic.twitter.com/hUwEL6i91x
9.21pm GMT
“Enough is enough,” Democrat representative Nancy Pelosi has said in a statement about the San Bernardino shooting.
She adds that Congress has “a moral responsibility” to act on gun violence.
Today, yet another American community is reeling from the horror of gun violence. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of San Bernardino. As the families of the victims grieve and the survivors focus on healing, the entire American family mourns.
“Gun violence is a crisis of epidemic proportions in our nation. Congress has a moral responsibility to vote on common sense measures to prevent the daily agony of gun violence in communities across America. Enough is enough.”
9.14pm GMT
“Multiple shooters” targeted a function in the conference center, Sergeant Vicki Cervantes has told an ABC7 reporter.
The Inland Regional Center hosted “some kind of function today, an event, and during that event is when multiple shooters came in and just started shooting,” Cervantes said.
9.09pm GMT
At least seven people have been injured, NBC reporter Marin Austin tweets from the Loma Linda Health center, one of several area hospitals that is preparing to receive patients.
Just spoke to a hospital spokesperson. 4 patients are being treated @lomalindahealth, 3 more are on the way. @NBCLA pic.twitter.com/Q5NZNrK7kN
9.06pm GMT
Yvette Cabrera, reporting for the Guardian from San Bernardino, sends some background on the Inland Regional Center:
The center is one of 21 nonprofit agencies throughout California funded by the state Department of Developmental services. The agencies are charged with serving children and adults with developmental disabilities such as autism and cerebral palsy, and have been forced to slash services to clients over the last decade due to cuts in state funding during the economic downturn.
Attempting to speak w people who were at #sanbernardino shooting but officers keep telling them not to talk to media pic.twitter.com/xMRRo5HFcI
9.05pm GMT
This is a closer look at the location of the Inland Regional Center, where the shooting took place:
9.02pm GMT
Lieutenant Rich Lawhead has confirmed to a local NBC station that there are fatalities, but did not say how many people may have been shot or killed.
He also declined to confirm reports that the suspect or suspects may have worn body armor.
8.57pm GMT
Police are looking for suspects who may have fled the scene in an SUV, an official at the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed to the Guardian.
The official said that law enforcement officers are acting on intelligence that three suspects were seen fleeing the scene in an SUV vehicle.
Waterman Avenue exits at the 10, both north and southbound, have been closed.
8.46pm GMT
President Barack Obama has been briefed on the shooting by homeland security adviser Lisa Monaco, the AP reports.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has already commented on the shooting, tweeting:
I refuse to accept this as normal. We must take action to stop gun violence now. -H https://t.co/SkKglwQycb
California shooting looks very bad. Good luck to law enforcement and God bless. This is when our police are so appreciated!
8.42pm GMT
Police have moved reporters away from the Center but continue to close in on the building, with tactical teams and explosives technicians going room to room in the search for civilians and suspects.
Hard to see but police have lined up on a perimeter around a golf course across from Inland Regional Center. pic.twitter.com/6NAKCI4Ktu
People are escorted into the San Bernardino golf club after active shooter took place at Inland Regional Center pic.twitter.com/Afv1MxXp0K
8.35pm GMT
San Bernardino police believe the suspect or suspects are well armed and possibly wearing body armor, a spokesperson has told the LA Times, in line with accounts heard by local reporters.
Sergeant Vicky Cervantes told reporters that officers are going door to door. “It’s a very active scene,” she said. “It’s very fluid.”
Reports of one suspect walking in, dressed in tactical gear, heavily armed into a conference room & started shooting #SanBernardinoshooting
“They locked themselves in her office. They seen bodies on the floor,” Aguilera said, adding that his wife saw ambulances taking people out of the building on stretchers.
8.27pm GMT
Bomb technicians have arrived and are working with police to clear the buildings, and accounts from inside the office complex are trickling out through loved ones and cellphones.
One woman texted her father, CBS news reported, with a message that read: “People shot. In the office waiting for cops. Pray for us. I’m locked in an office.”
Father reads text from daughter: "Shooting at my work. People shot...Pray for us." https://t.co/Hv8FNXsc3X https://t.co/vEnH2FNdBe
8.18pm GMT
A worker at the Inland Regional Center has spoken with the Guardian’s Ryan Felton. She provides some background on the center.
Nancy Lungren, assistant director of communications for the California department of developmental services, said the Inland Regional Center is one of 21 facilities in the state that help coordinate services and support people with developmental disabilities, like autism and cerebral palsy.
“And it can make all the difference,” Lungren told the Guardian, adding: “They try to keep them in a community, living at home or living in an apartment.”
8.16pm GMT
Heavily armed officers continue to gather and set up stations around the large complex, where more than 600 people usually work.
San Bernardino police have warned emphatically on Facebook that the area is “very active” and should be avoided. Live footage of the scene shows continued evacuations and police coordinating, and local reporters say that teams are working to clear the complex’s buildings room by room.
BREAKING: Agents from ATF's Los Angeles Field Division are responding to the scene of the San Bernadino shooting.
8.11pm GMT
Police have asked local TV affiliates not to broadcast close footage of the Inland Regional Center, which dozens of officers from various departments have formed a perimeter around.
UPDATE: Dozens of people filed out of center, holding hands in air; others being treated https://t.co/Ekf6Acw6jM pic.twitter.com/mfmBapCOwP
A very wide shot of building at center of active shooting. Multiple SWAT teams clearing buildings #SanBernardino pic.twitter.com/1rVnVxE2mn
8.08pm GMT
7.54pm GMT
Police are responding to an “active shooter” in San Bernardino, California, reporting “one to three possible suspects” and “multiple victims”.
The sheriff’s department, fire units and a Swat team have all responded to the scene and are trying to lock down the area around the Inland Regional Center, a nonprofit that helps people with developmental disabilities. Police have warned residents to stay away from the nearby golf course and the area of Orange Show Road and Waterman Avenue.
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