Christine Drews Sieger
A deadly shooting at a San Diego mosque has left three people dead, as investigators examine extremist motives and community leaders warn of rising anti-Muslim hate.
Two perpetrators were responsible on Monday for the deaths of three people at the Islamic Center of San Diego. The two teenage suspects were later found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, according to CNN.
A security guard named Amin Abdullah responded quickly to the armed men, and police say his actions helped limit the attack before he himself lost his life.
The two other victims attempted to remove the perpetrators from the mosque. Officials say their actions also prevented further deaths.
Online radicalisation
Police conducted searches in which they found several weapons, ammunition, and equipment. Investigators also discovered a manifesto and other racist and Islamophobic materials.
Authorities are currently continuing to investigate how the two teenagers became radicalised, but it is believed that they got to know each other online.
On Tuesday, a memorial service was held nearby to honour those killed and support the families of the deceased, CNN reports.
Far from the first attack
There have previously been attacks and threats against mosques in the San Diego area, particularly in connection with hate crimes targeting Muslims, according to ABC News.
The most well-known case took place in 2019, when the Dar-ul-Arqam mosque in Escondido, north of San Diego, was the target of an attempted arson attack.
The arson attack was later linked to John T. Earnest, who only weeks later carried out the deadly attack on the synagogue in Poway.
The mosque fire was investigated as both arson and a hate crime. No one was seriously injured, but the incident created widespread fear among Muslim communities in the area.
Sources: CNN, ABC News
