San Diego Mayor Denounces Islamophobia After Deadly Mosque Attack Probe

(MENAFN) Authorities in the US city of San Diego have strongly condemned Islamophobia following a deadly shooting at a local mosque that left three people dead, with officials investigating the incident as a hate-motivated attack, according to reports.

In remarks made during a press briefing shortly after the incident, Mayor Todd Gloria stressed unity and rejected hate-driven violence, saying: "Hate has no home in San Diego. Islamophobia has no home in San Diego. An attack on any San Diegan is an attack on all San Diegans, and we will not stand for it,"

He further warned that those responsible for violence in the city would face a forceful response from law enforcement, adding: "Let there be no misunderstanding for anyone who would seek to bring this kind of violence to this city: you will be met with the full force of our law enforcement partnerships. Anyone who seeks to do harm here will understand the response will be swift, and you will be brought to justice,"

Three people, including a security guard, were killed at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday. Officials have not yet released the identities of those who died.

Police officials also described additional incidents reported nearby as emergency response efforts were underway. Officers said they received reports of another shooting a short distance away, where a landscaper may have been struck but survived after the bullet hit his protective helmet and was deflected.

"A couple blocks away from there, we also received a call where a community member reported our two suspects in a vehicle, and it appeared they had gunshot wounds, and upon our arrival, we determined they were deceased," police officials said.

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