US: Probable cause that locked phone has evidence of attack

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department says there's "probable cause" that a locked iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino killers contains evidence of the eventual attack.

Federal prosecutors say in a new court filing Thursday that the government and the community need access to the phone, and say Apple Inc. must comply with a court order to make the device available.

The response from the government sets the stage for a March 22 hearing at which lawyers for Apple and the Justice Department will argue their case before a federal magistrate.

Officials are looking for access to the phone used by Syed Farook but owned by San Bernardino County, where he was a health inspector. Federal investigators say the attack by Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, was at least partly inspired by the Islamic State group. The couple died later in a gun battle with police.

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