Chattanooga gunman Muhammad Abdulazeez killed four marines and one critical

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Marines were killed after the suspect opened fire in Chattanooga, Tennessee
At least three others, including a police officer, were also injured
Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, 24, was then shot and killed by police
He was a college graduate with a degree in electrical engineering
The Muslim published two blog posts on Monday, with a chilling warning
He wrote: 'Brothers and sisters don't be fooled by your desires'

By Ashley Collman and Wills Robinson For Dailymail.com and Associated Press and Reuters

Published: 11:17 EST, 16 July 2015 | Updated: 23:09 EST, 16 July 2015

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SWAT teams swarmed a house belonging to the family of a Muslim gunman who shot and killed four Marines during two brazen attacks on military sites that have been described as an 'act of domestic terrorism'.

Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, originally from Kuwait, first attacked a recruitment center at a strip mall with an automatic rifle before driving four miles north in a rented silver convertible Ford Mustang to a U.S. Naval Reserve Center.

There the 24-year old engineering graduate, who reportedly visited the Middle East in the last two years, fatally gunned down the four Marines through a perimeter fence before a local police officer shot and killed him during a brutal standoff.

Hours after the shooting, law enforcement raided his family's house in the upscale neighborhood of Hixson, just a mile away from the scene of the first shooting, and took two women away in handcuffs.

They remained at the property into the night as the FBI started a terrorist investigation in a bid to decipher the motives behind the attack, and whether he was inspired by ISIS.

It has also been revealed he updated a cryptic blog on his Islamic beliefs where he talked about submitting to Allah just three days before staging the horrific attack.

He wrote: 'Brothers and sisters don't be fooled by your desires, this life is short and bitter and the opportunity to submit to allah may pass you by.'

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Smirking: Muhammad Abdulazeez, 24 (pictured), has been identified as the gunman behind a shooting that killed four in Chattanooga on Thursday. He smiles in a mugshot (left) following his arrest for driving under the influence in April. Right he is pictured training as an amateur MMA fighter

Law enforcement officers detain a woman as they surround a house in Hixson, Tennessee, believed to be the home of Youssef Abdulazeez

FBI and a number of law enforcement officials stormed the house in the aftermath of the shooting

Law enforcement personnel gather outside the home of gunman Mohammod Youssuf Abdulazeez. The two women were taken away in handcuffs after the raid. FBI officials said no one else has been taken into custody and at this point, no one else is believed to be involved

Family: Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez (back row in orange shirt) poses for a picture with his family by the river banks of Chattanooga

The shooting started just before 11am when witnesses saw a gunman pull into a local strip mall and start firing several rounds into the offices of a military recruitment center

A pastor prays over a sobbing citizen outside the recruitment center that was targeted during the attack

According to The Daily Beast, he added: 'Take his (Allah's) word as your light and code and do not let other prisoners, whether they are so called 'Scholars' or even your family members, divert you from the truth. If you make the intention to follow allahs way 100 per cent and put your desires to the side, allah will guide you to what is right.'

As a result of the shooting, security was beefed up across the country at military recruitment centers and bases.

The attack came on the last day of the holy Muslim festival Ramadan, a period during which leaders of the terrorist group asked for more lone wolf attacks.

He was a practicing Muslim, and would take breaks from training as a Mixed Martial Arts fighter to pray in his coach's office.

Fellow worshipers had seem him in a local mosque up to a month before the attack, but it is not known if or how he may have been radicalized.

Those who prayed alongside him said he was acting normally and there was nothing to suggest he was preparing to do something so violent.

On Thursday evening, the FBI said no one else was believed to be involved and they hadn't taken anyone into custody.

At least three others - including Chattanooga Police Officer Dennis Pedigo, a Marine recruiter and a Navy sailor - were also injured in the two brazen assaults. Pedigo is said to be in a stable condition.

They then led two unidentified women away in handcuffs, but is unknown what connection they had to the gunman.

The four casualties, who are yet to be named, were believed to have been part of a reserve artillery unit and had been deployed to Iraq three times.

Witnesses described how he shot from the driver's seat, leaning the gun on the side of his hire car.

Homeland Security has stepped up their presence at military buildings across the country as a result.

The NYPD have also increased their presence at 'sensitive areas' - including recruitment centers and landmarks.

Abdulazeez was a naturalized citizen who was brought up in Jordan and came to the United States with his family in 1996.

Heavily armed officers surround house in Tennessee

Happy student: Youssuf Abdulazeez attended the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga and graduated in 2012 with a degree in engineering

Yearbook photo: Youssuf Abdulazeez wrote between two pictures of himself: 'My name causes national security alerts. What does yours do?'

Hobbies: A video purportedly shows him in a MMA fight in Chattanooga. (He is the fighter in the dark hair and camouflage shorts)

A member of the FBI looks at the glass doors riddled with bullet holes outside the recruitment center that was targeted in Chattanooga

A spokesman for the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, confirmed that he attended the school and graduated in 2012 with a degree in electrical engineering.

Pictures on social media have emerged of him at his graduation ceremony and celebrating with members of his family in 2012.

However he was recently seen smirking in his mugshot when he was arrested for driving under the influence in April. He was scheduled to attend a court hearing two weeks from the shooting.

In his yearbook entry for Red Bank High School, where he was a starter for the varsity wrestling team, he wrote between two pictures of himself: 'My name causes national security alerts. What does yours do?'

According to online profiles and a YouTube video, he became an amateur Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter when he left school.

Almir Dizdarevic, a former coach, told CNN he had traveled overseas to the Middle East in the last two years and had reportedly 'moved home'. However it is unknown where in the area he visited and why he was there.

Abdulazeez's father, Youssuf Abdullazeez, was appointed as a 'special policeman' for Chattanooga's Department of Public Works in March 2005, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported.

He was investigated several years ago for allegedly giving money to a group associated with terrorism, the New York Times reported.

Citing unnamed law enforcement officials, the paper said the gunman's father was at one point on a terrorist watch list and was questioned while on a trip overseas.

The paper quoted an official as cautioning that the investigation was several years old and had not generated any information on the son. The father was eventually removed from the watch list, the paper quoted the official as saying.

Neighbors in the upscale community say his family were well-respected and the daughters would often babysit for their children.

A woman who was at school with Abdulazeez said he was a quiet kid, but well-liked.

President Obama orders probe into shooting of four marines

Four Marines were killed on Thursday when a gunman opened fire on two military centers in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Officials named the suspect, as 24-year-old Muhammah Abdulazeez, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Kuwait

In a short statement, President Obama said: 'It is a heartbreaking circumstance for these individuals that served our country with great valor to be killed in this fashion.' FBI Director James Comey

Karen Wagner told the Times Free Press: 'He was friendly, funny, kind,' said Kagan Wagner. 'I never would have thought it would would be him.'

'They were your average Chattanooga family,' she added.

Kevin Emily, his high school wrestling coach, told CNN he was just a 'normal', 'humble' student who would sometimes miss practice because he had to pray.

He described how his mother and father would come and watch his fights on a regular basis .

'There were no red flags about anything. We had a tight bond together.'

It is not known how and where he practiced Islam in the months before the attack but, according to the Daily Beast, he ran a rambling blog with only two posts, both posted on July 13.

The first post was entitled 'A Prison Called Dunya,' Abdulazeez refers to prisoner who is told he would be given a test that would either take him out of his earthly prison - or send him into a more restrictive environment.

According to the website, he wrote: 'I would imagine that any sane person would devote their time to mastering the information on the study guide and stay patient with their studies, only giving time for the other things around to keep themselves focused on passing the exam.

He added: 'This life is that test, designed to separate the inhabitants of Paradise from the inhabitants of Hellfire.'

The second post is called 'Understanding Islam: The Story of the Three Blind Men.' It suggests Abdulazeez felt his fellow Muslims had a 'certain understanding of Islam and keep a tunnel vision of what we think Islam is.'

The shooting started just before 11am on Thursday, when witnesses saw a single man drive into a strip mall and use a high-powered shotgun to fire more than a dozen rounds at a military recruitment office from his convertible Mustang.

The shooter then fled the scene in his rented silver Ford Mustang and drove to a U.S. Naval Reserve center where he opened fire again.

He was then gunned down in a hail of bullets after a short chase away from the scene. Reports suggest he held police at bay as he used 30-clip rounds from his automatic weapon.

Witnesses described seeing a police car riddled with bullets being towed away from the scene of the standoff.

President Obama was briefed on the incident and immediately opened an investigation to be led by the FBI. The head of the government agency, James Comey, was said to have been inside the Oval Office when the president was informed of what happened.

Obama also urged the Department of Defense officials at bases around the country to remain 'vigilant' in the wake of the attack. This led to the beefing up of security in cities across the country.

In a short statement, he said: 'It is a heartbreaking circumstance for these individuals that served our country with great valor to be killed in this fashion.'

He added that the thoughts of the American people are with the families of those who had been killed or injured.

Suzanne Burnett holds a candle as she sings during a prayer service at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church for the victims of the shootings

Chuck Hartung holds his daughter Haley, eight, during a prayer service in tribute to those who were killed or injured in the two brazen attacks

The Rev. Drew McCallie prays during a prayer service at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. Members of the congregation hold their heads in prayer

Chad Harris puts his face against a pew as he prays during the vigil

Melody Kelley hugs Logan Wallace during the service as residents of the city reflect on the shooting

Stephanie Rhoades holds her son Peyton as members of the congregation reacted emotionally to the violence

Military veteran David Croft adjusts a US flag at a makeshift memorial near a US Military Recruiting storefront

He then places a bouquet of flowers on the memorial hours after the fatal shooting which shook the city

Ray Mabus, the Secretary f the Navy said he would be opening an investigation into what happened, but insisted the families of the victims were the priority.

In a statement he said: 'Though we can never fully prevent attacks like this, we will continue to investigate, review and guard against future vulnerabilities and do everything in our power to safeguard the security of our service members and their families.

'While we expect our sailors and Marines to go into harm's way, and they do so without hesitation, an attack at home, in our community, is insidious and unfathomable. As the investigation unfolds, our priority will be to take care of the families of those affected.

Mabus also expressed his gratitude to the first responders who first went to the scene. He said their 'prompt reaction was critical to stopping this individual from inflicting further violence.'

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said: 'It is with a heavy heart that I learned of today's tragic events in Chattanooga.

'My thoughts and prayers - along with those of the men and women of the Department of Defense - are with the families of those killed in this senseless act of violence and with all those touched by this tragedy, including our Navy and Marine Corps family.

'I am grateful to local law enforcement for their swift response. The department will continue to work with local law enforcement as they investigate this heinous crime and will support our military families in their time of grief.'

Republican presidential hopeful Bobby Jindal released a strong statement, insisting the latest attack his proof that America is at war with everyday radical Islam.

He said: 'This apparent act of terrorism has taken the lives of four American heroes, and our hearts and prayers are with their families. While it's too early to know for sure what happened, it certainly looks like an act of terrorism.

'We must pursue justice on their behalf and stop at nothing to hunt down and kill these evildoers abroad before more of them come here to kill our people.

'This shooting underscores the grave reality of the threat posed to us by Radical Islamic terrorism every single day. It's time for the White House to wake up and tell the truth…and the truth is that Radical Islam is at war with us, and we must start by being honest about that.

'There have been many bad things that have happened under President Obama. One that stands out to me was the horrible shooting at Ft. Hood…which was clearly an act of terrorism by a Radical Islamist. Yet the White House labeled that horrible act as 'workplace violence.'

'This is grotesque. You cannot defeat evil until you admit that it exists.'

The Islamic community also came out to condemn the attack as 'cowardly'.

Bassam Issa, the President of the Islamic Society in Chattanooga, said: 'We are tremendously saddened by today's shooting in hour home town of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Our hearts are with the families of the brave Marines who died today and with the police officer and two bystanders who were shot and injured in this cowardly act.

Video of Mohammed Abdulazeez in amateur MMA fight

Those inside were likely unarmed since a sign on the door said it was a gun-free zone

Above, the silver convertible that witnesses described seeing the gunman drive during the morning shooting

The gunman then fled and drove about eight miles north to a U.S. Naval Reserve center, where he killed four Marines

Chattanooga Police Officer Dennis Pedigo has been identified as one of the people injured in the shooting. He is reportedly in stable condition at the hospital

'We condemn this act in the strongest possible terms as one of corwadice and hate. At the Islamic Center of Greater Chattannoga, we don't see our community center as a 'Muslim' community; we are Chattanoogans first, and we see ourselves as part of the larger community of Tennesseans grieving today's act.

'The leadership of the Islamic Society of Greater Chattanooga is currently meeting with law enforcement agencies and other members of the Chattanooga community in regards to this tragedy and will issue additional comments to the media this evening.'

Three days before Abdulazeez opened fire, local Muslims held a protest defending their religion in the Tennessee city.

They targeted Chattanooga because the FBI caught a man from there who was planning an attack on a Mosque in upstate New York

The shooting comes at a time of heightened security following terror warnings issued ahead of the Fourth of July weekend.

New York Police Department Deputy Commissioner Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller released a statement saying there would be heightened police presence in 'sensitive areas', including recruiting stations and landmarks.

'The NYPD has deployed an increased number of Critical Response Vehicles (CRV) to provide additional coverage at military recruiting stations and other sensitive locations in the City of New York.

'While we have no specific information about any plot against the city, until we learn more about the attack we have placed additional officers in key locations.'

'We have been in regular contact with Tennessee authorities, the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force and the intelligence community.

News of the shooting broke around 11:30am when Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke tweeted: 'Horrific incident in our community. We will release details as they are confirmed. Prayers to all those affected'.

At an afternoon press conference, officials remained tight-lipped about details of the shooting, but said that it was being investigated as an 'act of domestic terrorism'.

They wouldn't divulge what kind of weapons the shooter was using, but did confirm that he had multiple weapons on his person.

The investigation is being coordinated by the FBI, since crimes on military centers are under federal jurisdiction.

At least five killed including gunman in Tennessee shootings

Police block a street near the home of suspected shooter Muhammod Youssuf Abdulazeez in Chattanooga

A police officer patrols the parking lot where the gunman opened fire on a set of military recruitment offices on Thursday

Reserve Recruitment personnel stand outside a Navy recruiting building as the area is cordoned off with blue shell casing markers in the parking lot on Thursday

Chattanooga police talk to Reserve Recruitment Center personnel at the Lee Hwy office. At least two military facilities in Tennessee were attacked in shootings Thursday, including one at a Navy recruiting building, officials said

Cricket Wireless store employees look out their door next to the Reserve Recruitment Center as the area is cordoned off after a shooting on Thursday

Reports of gunfire in military recruitment offices in Tennessee

Police officers with rifles kneel on the ground near the scene of the active shooting on Amnicola Highway in Chattanooga, Tennessee - near the Naval Reserve Center

Witnesses said that they saw a man in a silver Mustang open fire on the military recruitment centers just before 11am. Above, officers near the scene of the U.S. Naval Center about nine miles north of the strip mall

Bullet holes seen at Tennessee military recruiting center

Eyewitness, Gina Mule, who works near to the recruitment center said she saw the gunman fire at the offices.

Speaking to CNN, Mule said she was eating in a restaurant when a man 'with a high-powered rifle' began firing around 10:50am.

April Grimmett shared a picture of the bullet-ridden frontage of the recruitment center after hearing rapid gunfire coming from the vicinity.

'Shortly after that we heard the shot. It was very loud and very fast,' she said.

Grimmett added that the shooter appeared to be talking on the phone during the attack.

'I could not believe how many bullet holes were in that door. It was insane.'

One other witness, Erica Wright, told CNN that she was working in a hair salon near the center and saw and heard the gunman.

'We heard one pop, one really loud pop. We went to the door and there was several other pops after that and we looked two doors down and we saw a guy in a silver mustang unloading on the recruiter's office,' she said.

Wright added that he reloaded once or twice.

Police and emergency vehicles block Amnicola Highway after a morning shooting near the Naval Reserve Center, in Chattanooga, Tenn. on Thursday, July 16, 2015

Four marines confirmed dead in Chattanooga shooting

Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Paul Clendenen guards the top of the C.B. Robinson Bridge at Amnicola Highway after a morning shooting near the Naval Reserve Center, in Chattanooga, Tenn. on Thursday, July 16, 2015

U.S. Attorney says today 'is a sad day for the United States'

An unidentified man who was in the parking lot of the strip mall told WTVC about the terrifying situation that unfolded in front of him.

'He just pulled up. I didn't think anything of it. … He lifted up his arms with a big black gun. It was one shot then it was endless shots, one after another, just unloading.'

Marilyn Hutcheson was with her friend taking a break when she told CNN that she heard '7 to 15 shots'.

'There was a barrage of fire once the police officers and everyone got here,' she said. 'They came across and put all of the buildings on lockdown. There was a lot of gunfire going on for quite a while.'

The shooting at the Amnicola Highway reserve center led Chattanooga State Community College, Lee University and a nearby mall to go into lock down.

Ambulances race towards Navy reserve centre in Tennessee

New York City police officers stand guard at a military recruiting center in Times Square . The added security comes after the gunman in Chattanooga, Tennessee, attacked two military posts