Five killed in shooting at San Diego Islamic Center

Five people died Monday in an attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego, including three victims and two teenage perpetrators who subsequently took their own lives. Police are treating the incident as a hate crime and have launched extensive investigations. The FBI has established a tip line and is asking the public for assistance in uncovering the background of the attack.

The events began just before noon when San Diego police received reports of an active shooter at the Islamic Center. Between 50 and 100 police officers immediately responded and cordoned off the area extensively. Upon arrival, emergency personnel found three dead men, including a security guard from the mosque. Eyewitness reports and video footage showed a massive police presence with heavily armed officers systematically searching the premises.

The two suspects, aged 17 and 19, were later found dead several blocks away from the scene. According to authorities, they died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Police confirmed that both perpetrators were teenagers but initially released no further details about their identities or possible motives. Investigators are working to reconstruct the exact chronology of events and determine how the attackers reached the Islamic Center and why they selected this location as their target.

The Islamic Center of San Diego is the largest mosque in San Diego County and serves as an important religious and cultural hub for the region's Muslim community. The complex houses not only prayer rooms but also the Al Rashid School, which offers courses in Arabic language, Islamic studies, and Quran instruction for students aged five and up. The center is located approximately 14 kilometers north of downtown San Diego and serves as a daily gathering place for hundreds of worshippers.

Mayor Todd Gloria confirmed the incident via social media, stating that emergency personnel were on scene and actively working to protect the community and secure the area. San Diego police later announced that the threat had been neutralized, without initially providing details about casualty numbers or circumstances. Only throughout the afternoon were further details about the scope of the tragedy gradually released.

The role of the security guard who was among the victims is being considered potentially crucial by investigators. Initial findings suggest that his intervention may have prevented additional casualties. However, the exact circumstances of his death and his actions during the attack remain subject to ongoing investigation. Police are also examining whether the perpetrators had originally planned to penetrate the interior of the building complex.

The FBI has classified the investigation as a hate crime and is working closely with local authorities. Federal law enforcement typically initiates hate crime investigations when there are indications that victims were selected based on their religion, race, or other protected characteristics. A special tip line has been established through which citizens can report information about the perpetrators or possible motives.

The attack occurs against the backdrop of a documented increase in Islamophobic incidents across the United States. Various hate crime monitoring organizations have recorded a rise in attacks on Muslim facilities and individuals in recent years. The Islamic Center of San Diego had not previously been classified as particularly at risk but apparently maintained security measures including the security guard who lost his life in the attack.

Many questions remain unanswered for now. Investigators are working to illuminate the backgrounds of the two teenage perpetrators, their possible connections to each other, and their motivation for the attack. The exact weapon used and how the teenagers obtained it is also not yet known. Authorities are also examining whether there were warning signs or if the perpetrators had shared extremist content on social media or elsewhere.

The investigation is focusing on several key areas that could provide insight into the planning and execution of the attack. Law enforcement officials are reviewing surveillance footage from the area, examining the suspects' digital footprints, and interviewing potential witnesses who may have seen the teenagers before or during the incident. The fact that both suspects were found dead several blocks away raises questions about their movements after the initial shooting and whether they had planned their own deaths as part of the attack.

The impact on San Diego's Muslim community has been immediate and profound. Community leaders are calling for increased security measures at religious facilities while also emphasizing the need for unity and resilience in the face of hatred. The Islamic Center had been serving the community for years without major security incidents, making Monday's attack particularly shocking for regular attendees and their families.

Federal investigators are also examining whether the attack fits patterns seen in other hate crimes targeting religious minorities. The involvement of teenage perpetrators adds another layer of complexity to the investigation, as authorities seek to understand how young individuals became radicalized to the point of committing such violence. The self-inflicted deaths of the suspects have eliminated the possibility of direct questioning, making the digital and physical evidence recovery even more critical for understanding their motivations and any potential outside influences.