The American police assured they “neutralized” a “threat” after the intrusion of two gunmen into an Islamic center in San Diego this Monday. Donald Trump deplored a “terrible situation.”
The San Diego police reported at least three deaths after the intrusion of two suspected gunmen into a Islamic center in this southern California city on Monday, May 18. Among the three deceased men, the security guard of this center is one of the victims, reported CNN.
“Two suspected gunmen were also found dead in a car near the scene,” said San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl, as reported by the American media.
According to Scott Wahl, the two suspects found dead were ages 17 and 19. “At this point, it appears that the suspects died from gunshot wounds that they inflicted on themselves,” he continued at a press conference.
Dozens of armed men deployed on site
The two suspected gunmen targeted the Islamic Center of San Diego, a structure that houses the largest mosque in this region of southern California and also provides classes for children.
Police received calls reporting shots around midday and quickly deployed dozens of heavily armed men to the scene.
The first responders arrived “within four minutes” and found “three dead” in front of the center, according to San Diego Police Chief.
“Given the location of the Islamic center, we consider this a hate crime until proven otherwise,” said Scott Wahl.
“All children, staff members, and teachers are safe outside the Islamic center,” explained the center’s leader, Imam Taha Hassane, who described targeting a place of worship as “scandalous.”
“We have never experienced such a tragedy. Right now, all I can say is that we are praying for you and we stand in solidarity with all the families in our community,” he added.
Donald Trump deplores a “terrible situation”
From Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump deplored a “terrible situation” after the shooting.
“I have been given some initial information, but we will reassess the situation shortly,” the U.S. President reacted to a question from the press at the White House.
The motives of the suspected gunmen are currently unknown. But according to the police, the case is being treated as an Islamophobic attack.
With more firearms in circulation than people, the United States has the highest gun-related mortality rate of all developed countries.
Shootings are a recurring scourge that successive governments have not yet been able to curb, as many Americans remain very attached to their guns.
In 2025, nearly 15,000 people, not including suicides, were killed by firearms, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
