San Diego mosque shooting investigated as suspected hate crime
Authorities are treating the incident at the Islamic Centre of San Diego as a hate crime after two teenage gunmen opened fire, killing three men before taking their own lives nearby.
San Diego Police have launched an investigation into a fatal shooting at the Islamic Centre of San Diego, classifying the incident as a suspected hate crime. Two teenage gunmen opened fire at the facility on Monday, killing three men before taking their own lives a few blocks away. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl confirmed the details at a news conference held at a neighbourhood park adjacent to the mosque, stating that the specific circumstances leading to the attack would emerge in the coming days.
The attack targeted the largest mosque in San Diego County, a complex that also houses the Al Rashid School, which provides Arabic language and Islamic studies courses for children aged five and older. Chief Wahl noted that a mosque security guard, one of the deceased, played a pivotal role in limiting the severity of the incident and preventing further casualties. The police response was rapid, with authorities arriving on the scene within four minutes of the initial call.
All children at the Al Rashid School were reported safe following the incident. Aerial footage captured more than a dozen children holding hands as they were escorted out of the parking lot, surrounded by numerous police vehicles. Parents were directed to a nearby area to retrieve their students. Wahl described the situation as emotional, expressing condolences to the families who were being notified of their loved ones' deaths.
The shooters were located dead in a vehicle stopped in the middle of a road a few blocks from the mosque. During the incident, a landscaper near the scene was shot at but remained uninjured. The Islamic Centre is situated in a residential and commercial area characterised by homes, apartments, and strip malls featuring Middle Eastern businesses. The centre’s director, Imam Taha Hassane, condemned the violence as outrageous, emphasising the institution’s focus on interfaith relations and community building.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office confirmed that he is being briefed on the incident, while the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-San Diego) issued a statement condemning the shooting. CAIR-San Diego Executive Director Tazheen Nizam highlighted the importance of safety for worshippers and students, urging the community to keep the victims’ families in their prayers. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the full scope of the motive and events surrounding the attack.
