Shooting at San Diego Mosque Complex: Two Suspects Found Dead in a Car

Police in San Diego said emergency responders found the victims outside the Islamic Center, described on its website as the largest mosque in the San Diego area, in southern California. The perpetrators, aged 19 and 17, were also found dead inside a vehicle.

Television footage from a helicopter showed armed emergency responders gathered outside the building. One unknown person lay on the ground, with a pool of blood.

Dozens of patrol cars lined the perimeter around the Islamic Center.

Following a brief lockdown and a warning for residents to stay indoors, the San Diego Police Department said the threat at the centre had been neutralised.

“We received a call about an active shooter at the Islamic Centre. Within four minutes, officers arrived at the scene and immediately found three dead in front,” San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl told reporters.

“We quickly began deploying active shooter response to the mosque and the adjacent school,” he said.

Outside the Islamic Center, police found a vehicle in the middle of the road with the shooters dead inside.

“The suspects appear to have died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. No officers were involved in the shooting,” Wahl said.

Police said a security guard at the complex was among the three killed. The identities of the other two victims had not been disclosed.

Imam of the mosque, Taha Hassane, said all staff, teachers and children at the mosque were safe.

“We have never before experienced a tragedy like this. And for now all I can say is that we send our prayers and solidarity to all the families in our community here,” he said.

“It is extremely outrageous to target a place of worship,” the imam added.

President Donald Trump described the shooting as an “awful situation.”

“I have received some initial information, but we will go back and examine it very carefully,” he told reporters.