San Diego community mourns three victims of mosque shooting as police probe hate crime
Police credit security guard and two others with delaying teenage suspects, actions that likely prevented further casualties in the United States
More than 2,000 people gathered in a San Diego park on Thursday for the Janazah, the Islamic funeral prayer, for three men killed during a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego. The memorial service, which included police officers, marks the latest development in an incident that has heightened tensions for Muslims across the United States amid a backdrop of rising Islamophobia.
The attack occurred on Monday during school hours at the Islamic Center of San Diego, the city’s largest mosque, which houses a primary school with 140 students. The victims have been identified as security guard Amin Abdullah, handyman Mansour Kaziha, and Nadir Awad.
According to police statements, the three men delayed two teenage suspects who opened fire at the centre. Authorities stated that the victims’ actions likely prevented further casualties, though this assessment is based on police inference rather than confirmed figures. The incident is currently being investigated as a hate crime.
The timing of the shooting, which took place while the primary school was in session, has raised significant concerns regarding the safety of students housed at the facility. The Islamic Center remains a focal point for the local community as authorities continue their probe into the motives behind the attack.
As the investigation proceeds, the event has underscored broader security and social dynamics within the region. Police have confirmed that the suspects are teenagers, and the focus remains on establishing the full context of the hate crime probe.
