CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — It took about two days for the FBI to announce it was investigating the Dec. 2 attack that killed 14 in San Bernardino, California, as an act of terror. Authorities have carefully avoided using the same wording about the Kuwaiti-born gunman behind the killing of five military personnel five months ago in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Experts say the ramped-up visibility of extremism after the deadly attacks in Paris have created a different climate for how authorities discuss such investigations.
Labeling Chattanooga a terror attack would make its victims eligible for the Purple Heart. That in turn would entitle their survivors to additional payments and benefits.
FBI spokeswoman Joyce McCants says the agency may have an update on the Chattanooga case this week.