San Diego mosque shooting: Three dead in suspected hate crime attack
Two teenage gunmen killed three people at the largest mosque in San Diego County before taking their own lives, prompting a joint federal and local investigation into a suspected hate crime.
San Diego Police have launched a formal 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 morning, killing three people before fleeing the scene. The attackers were later located dead in a vehicle a few blocks away after taking their own lives.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl confirmed the details at a news conference held at a neighbourhood park adjacent to the mosque. The attack targeted the Islamic Centre, which is the largest mosque in San Diego County and also houses the Al Rashid School. The incident occurred just days before the Muslim community prepares for the religious observance of Eid al-Adha.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the incident as a suspected hate crime alongside local authorities. While the specific motives of the gunmen remain under investigation, authorities have maintained the classification of a hate crime. The identities of the three victims have not been released in the source material.
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.
The shooters were found dead in a vehicle stopped in the middle of a road near the scene. The timeline of events between the shooting at the mosque and the discovery of the bodies is not fully elaborated, but the joint investigation continues to determine the full scope of the attack.
