San Diego Shooting: Mosque Imam Highlights Surge in Islamophobia
Muslim community in San Diego, United States, is in mourning after a deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday (18 May 2026). The tragedy, which claimed three lives, has raised concerns about a surge in Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment in the region.
Imam Taha Hassane, leader of the centre, said his community has sensed an uptick in white supremacist activity in recent years. ‘We all recognise the rise of white supremacism in San Diego and across the country,’ Hassane told reporters on Tuesday (19 May 2026).
Authorities said two suspects, aged 17 and 18, opened fire at the mosque before being found dead in a vehicle on a nearby street. San Diego Police are investigating the massacre as a hate crime.
Three victims in the incident were identified as: During the shooting, Al Rashid School, which teaches Islamic studies and Arabic, was in a teaching session.
Imam Hassane emphasised that Amin Abdullah’s swift actions prevented the attackers from entering classroom spaces.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl praised Abdullah’s actions as heroic and said they undoubtedly saved many lives. Along with Abdullah, Kaziha and Awad are said to have sacrificed their lives while attempting to protect the community and promptly contacting authorities when the shots were heard.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reported receiving 8,683 civil rights complaints nationwide in 2025, the highest since records began in 1996, indicating a significant rise in anti-Muslim incidents following conflicts in the Middle East.
Despite the blow, Imam Hassane stressed that the San Diego Muslim community, numbering over 100,000, will rise stronger and has received broad support from various religious denominations in San Diego.
‘This will not stop us from being present, from engaging civically and politically, and from continuing to build bridges with interfaith communities,’ Hassane concluded.
To date, police are continuing to probe the motive behind the attack, while security around places of worship in San Diego has been stepped up to prevent similar incidents in the future.