Five Dead in San Diego Mosque Shooting, Hate Crime Motive Probed

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San Diego: Five persons, including two juvenile suspects, were killed in a shooting at the Islamic Centre of San Diego in California. The incident is being investigated by authorities as a possible hate crime against Muslims.

According to authorities, two armed teenagers started gunfire on the mosque complex on Monday, killing three men. Officials said that one of the men was a security guard who prevented more deaths. The two suspects were later found dead inside nearby car from what seemed to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Investigators say that hate speech and anti-Islamic writings were discovered inside the suspects' vehicle and on one of the weapons used in the attack, indicating an extreme intention.

The FBI has joined the investigation, and San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl stated that the case is being investigated as a potential hate crime. According to officials, prior to the incident, the mother of one suspect had alerted authorities that her son was missing, suicidal, and carrying multiple weapons.

Children attending in regular classes at the nearby school were successfully evacuated from the Islamic Centre of San Diego, one of the biggest mosques in the area. After the incident, security was raised around mosques in several US cities.