Two teenage gunmen opened fire at a mosque inside a major Islamic center in San Diego, California, on Monday, killing three people before apparently taking their own lives, according to local authorities.
The attack took place around noon local time at an Islamic school and mosque complex near the US-Mexico border. Officials said classes and regular activities were underway at the time of the shooting.
Among the victims were a security guard and two individuals affiliated with the mosque. No children were harmed in the incident, school authorities confirmed.
Police later discovered the bodies of the two suspected attackers inside a vehicle a short distance from the scene. The suspects were aged 17 and 19. Investigators believe the pair died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds after carrying out the assault.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wall told reporters that authorities are still investigating the motive behind the attack, but preliminary findings suggest anti-Muslim hatred may have played a role. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has joined the investigation.
The mosque is part of one of the largest Islamic centers in San Diego, serving both as a place of worship and an educational institution for the local Muslim community.
The tragedy comes just days before Muslims around the world prepare to celebrate Eid al-Adha, one of Islam’s most important religious festivals.
0“We have never experienced a tragedy like this before,” said Imam Taha Hassan of the Islamic center. “Targeting a place of worship is a terrifying act.”
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims or the suspects as the investigation remains ongoing.
