Police in San Diego have announced that at least three people were killed after two armed individuals opened fire at an Islamic center.
According to The New York Times, citing police officials, the incident occurred before noon on Monday, May 18, at the “Islamic Center of San Diego.”
Reports indicate that the Islamic center included a mosque and a religious school, and several children were present there for classes at the time of the attack.
Security officials said the two attackers entered the center carrying semi-automatic weapons and opened fire. As a result of the attack, three people, including the mosque’s security guard, were killed.
Scott Wahl, the San Diego police chief, said that shortly after the shooting ended, officers discovered the bodies of two teenage boys inside a vehicle near the scene.
He added that around 30 rounds were fired during the incident, and preliminary investigations suggest the suspects used their last bullets to commit suicide after carrying out the attack.
The San Diego police chief emphasized that the case is being investigated as a possible act of domestic terrorism.
According to him, one of the suspects had taken a firearm from home and left with his friend, while his mother believed he intended to commit suicide.
Police officials also stated that a note found with one of the suspects indicated he held anti-Muslim views.
Donald Trump, the President of the United States, described the incident as a “horrific event” and said his administration would seriously follow the details of the attack.
Zohran Mamdani, the Muslim mayor of New York, also described the incident as a result of rising anti-Muslim hatred in the United States.
In a message, he stressed that Muslims should not feel fear or insecurity because of their religious identity.
Over the past year, several mosques and Islamic centers across different U.S. states have been targeted by attacks, threats, and acts of vandalism. In addition to the deadly shooting in San Diego, incidents involving arson, mosque vandalism, threatening messages, and verbal attacks against Muslims have also been reported in states such as New Jersey, Texas, Minnesota, and California.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
