Teenagers opened fire in US mosque, killed three people, then committed suicide

(Patria) - Two teenagers opened fire on Monday in the complex of the San Diego Islamic Center in California, killing three men in front of the mosque, one of whom was a security guard, before both suspects were found dead, apparently from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, police said. Cain Clark (17) and Caleb Vazquez (18) carried out this attack and then committed suicide.

All children attending the school that is part of the Islamic Center – the largest mosque in the region near the border with Mexico – were found safe after the shooting, which broke out shortly before 12 noon local time, said San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl.

Wahl said the FBI was called to assist in the investigation of the incident, which, according to him, authorities are treating as a hate crime. The attack occurred a week before the major Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

Reactions to the attack

A witness told CBS that he heard up to 30 shots from what sounded like a "semi-automatic weapon." He recounted that he first heard a dozen shots, then there was a pause, and then another dozen. "It's a good thing this didn't happen on Friday, because the streets would have been full of people," he added. 

Imam Taha Hassane, director of the San Diego Islamic Center, said at a press conference: "This is a place of worship, not a battlefield. We have never experienced such a tragedy before," said Taha Hassane, imam and director of the Islamic Center, in an interview with reporters. "It is extremely outrageous to target a place of worship."

California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that he was "horrified by today's violent attack" at a center "where families and children gather, and neighbors pray in peace and community." He added that California "will not tolerate acts of terror or intimidation of religious communities."

US President Donald Trump called the attack a "terrible situation."

"We have received the initial information, but we will deal with it very seriously," he said. The FBI urged citizens to report any information that could help the investigation.

Police discovered the bodies of two teenagers, aged 17 and 19, in a vehicle in the middle of the street. They died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, Wahl told a press conference.

At the time of the attack on Monday, children were in classes at Al Rashid School, located within the Islamic Center. Aerial footage showed children holding hands as they were escorted by police from the parking lot. Nearby schools were also temporarily closed for security reasons.

The FBI is investigating the incident as a hate crime due to writings found by the mother of one of the suspects. Two hours before the attack, the woman called the police to report that her son had left home with several of her guns and a car, accompanied by a friend, and that both were dressed in camouflage clothing. Police initially responded to a report of a potentially suicidal teenager.

Wahl clarified that the message left by the young man contained "general hate rhetoric and hate speech," but did not mention a specific threat to the mosque or any other location or person. He added that the motive for the attack is still unknown, but it is presumed to be a hate crime because the target of the attack was a mosque, the largest in San Diego County.

Hate messages were written on one of the weapons used. Although the specifics were not immediately clear, Wahl said the messages "covered a wide range" and were "more general," without a specific threat to the Islamic Center.

The Islamic Center in Clairemont is the largest mosque in San Diego County and houses the Bright Horizon Academy, a school that provides Islamic education, according to their website.