Three people have been killed in an attack on a mosque in San Diego, California (United States). The two presumed shooters are two young people, one of whom is a 17-year-old, found dead in a car.
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The alert was given shortly before noon, after the first shots were fired in an Islamic center in San Diego, California. While the two shooters are on the run, the children present are evacuated in a hurry, in front of terrified witnesses. “I heard the agents shouting ‘evacuate’, I was behind, it was paralyzing and so terrifying.”, recounts a woman.
Behind the security perimeter, panicked parents want to know how their children are doing. “My child took his phone and sent me a text to say that he had heard someone shouting. He said: ‘I’m screwed, I hear someone shouting.'”, recalls Charity Humphreys, a parent.
In total, the shooting claims three victims: the two shooters, runaway teenagers who committed suicide a few meters away, as well as the mosque’s guard. “He’s a great guy. His name is Amin, he was one of the best. Always smiling at people and ready to help.”, testifies Magdi Ahmed, a neighbor of the mosque. In shock, Imam Taha Hassane, the director of the Islamic center, struggles to contain his anger in front of the cameras: “It is absolutely scandalous to target a place of worship. Our Islamic center is a place of prayer. We welcome not only Muslims, but also people from all walks of life.”
For San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl, the shooters’ motivation leaves little room for doubt: “It’s the worst nightmare of any community. Because it’s an Islamic center, we consider it a hate crime until proven otherwise.”, he declared. Last night, Donald Trump described the shooting as “terrible” and promised that his administration would investigate the facts.
