Three shot as teens attack San Diego mosque

FIVE PEOPLE have died as a result of an armed attack on a mosque in San Diego, USA. Three people who were at the mosque were killed. The teenage killers have been found dead after fleeing the scene.

No motive for the attack has been established at this early stage of the investigation, but local police are treating the attack as a hate crime. They later reported that they had seen a note which one of the young people had left, which included what police described as “generalised hate rhetoric and hate speech”.

Sadly, the mother of one of the teen attackers had warned police that her son had driven off in her car, taking guns from their home, and she believed he felt suicidal. Police say they were looking for the car, but they did not find it in the two hours between the mother’s report and the attack.

The attack took place at the Islamic Centre of San Diego, which includes a mosque, the largest mosque in San Diego County, and a school. Someone living near the school heard gunshots and rang police. When they arrived at the Centre, police found that three people had died from gunshot wounds.

One of the victims has been named as a security guard, a father of eight children. He was praised for his bravery by police, who said that the had played a key role in preventing the attack from being even worse. San Dieo Police Chief Scott Wahl, speaking at a local press conference, said that the actions of the guard were “heroic” and undoubtedly saved lives.

After entering the Mosque and establishing that there were no attackers present inside, police led people to safety – including children who had been in the school on the site. Police then went to a nearby street where they found the bodies of two teenagers in a car – but had died from gunshot wounds.

Imam Taha Hassane, Director of the Islamic Center, told the press conference that the Centre is a “house of worship, not a battlefield”. He said that it is “outrageous” to target a place of worship. The Mosque had been preparing to celebrate Eid al-Adha. Those celebrations will now be tinged by sadness.

President Donald Trump has called the shooting a “terrible situation”. Perhaps he should reflect on the hate-rhetoric he has been spouting recently, and the effect this has on troubled teenagers.

●The Samaritans are available for anyone who needs someone to talk to, any time, day or night. Ring 116 123.

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