New episode of armed violence in and, this time, with a religious community in the spotlight.
At least five people died this Monday in an attack against the Islamic Center of San Diego, the largest mosque in the Californian county and one of the main meeting points of the Muslim community in the area.
Among the deceased are also the two alleged perpetrators of the shooting, two young people between 17 and 19 years old who, according to the FBI’s first investigations, died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl He confirmed at a press conference that the other three fatalities were adults and explained that one of them was a security guard who helped contain the situation during the attack.
A huge police deployment around the mosque
The alert occurred around 12:00 noon, local time, when the Police received notices about the presence of an “active shooter” in the area of the Islamic Center of San Diego, located in the Clairemont neighborhood.
The images subsequently spread on social networks and American media show scenes of enormous tension: families hastily leaving the premises, minors evacuated hand in hand and escorted by armed agents and a very extensive police deployment around the mosque.
The bodies of the two suspects were later found inside a vehicle near the scene of the attack.
“This investigation will require a lot of work over the coming days and weeks,” assured Wahl, who also insisted that authorities are analyzing the case as a possible hate crime “until proven otherwise.”
Concern grows over attacks against Muslims
The attack also occurs in a particularly delicate context in the United States, where different organizations have been warning for months of an increase in violence and hate speech against Muslim communities and Islamic places of worship.
The Islamic Center of San Diego is not just any mosque in California. It is the main Muslim religious and community space in the county and a regular meeting place for hundreds of families.
“I reiterate my condolences to the victims, their families and the entire Muslim community”stated the police chief at the close of his appearance.
At the moment, the authorities have not detailed the possible motive for the attack or whether the two young men acted alone or had links to an extremist group.
