'We are resilient': As San Diego's Muslim community reels from mosque shooting, it refuses to be intimidated

May 22, 2026

Two teenage gunmen, aged 17 and 18, attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday morning, fatally shooting three people—a security guard, a teacher's husband, and a shopkeeper who called 911—before one suspect killed the other and then himself as police approached. Authorities are investigating the incident as a white supremacist hate crime after discovering the attackers possessed anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic, and misogynistic writings and had been radicalized online, with 30 guns and a crossbow recovered from their residences. The security guard's heroic confrontation and the school's lockdown protocols saved approximately 140 children and staff who were on campus at the time.

Who is affected

Three victims killed: Amin Abdullah (security guard), Nadir Awad (husband of a teacher), and Mansour Kaziha (shopkeeper)
Approximately 140 children and staff at the Islamic Center's primary school
Parents of students including Nawal and Omar Al-Nouri, Dr. Muhammad Rahman, and Ali Alshahin
The families of the three victims, including Hawaa Abdullah and her seven siblings
The broader Muslim community at the Islamic Center of San Diego (the county's second-largest mosque)
Staff members including Imam Taha Hassane and Dr. Saad Eldegewi
Muslim residents in the surrounding neighborhood
Two teenage suspects, aged 17 and 18

What action is being taken

The FBI and local authorities are investigating the attack as a white supremacist hate crime
Police cars are patrolling the area surrounding the Islamic Center
The mosque has reopened for daily prayers (two days after the shooting)
Community members are helping with crowd control at funeral prayers
A makeshift memorial has been erected on the sidewalk in front of the center's gates

Why it matters

This attack represents a deadly manifestation of anti-Muslim hate crimes in America and highlights the real-world consequences of normalized anti-Muslim rhetoric in political discourse. The incident demonstrates how online radicalization can lead teenagers to commit acts of domestic terrorism, while also showing how preparedness measures—including security protocols, staff training, and the heroism of individuals like Amin Abdullah—can prevent even greater loss of life. The attack has traumatized children who witnessed blood and dead bodies, potentially affecting their sense of safety in religious and educational spaces. The community's response emphasizes both the resilience of the Muslim community and the need for broader societal action against hate speech and gun violence.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC