'The mosque always felt like a safe space': San Diego's Muslims reel after deadly shooting

'The mosque always felt like a safe space': San Diego's Muslims reel after deadly shooting Submitted by Mohammed Ahmad on Fri, 05/22/2026 - 12:20 Grieving Muslim community directs its anger at Mayor Todd Gloria, accusing him and other city leaders of ignoring years of warnings about rising Islamophobia Two Muslim women console each other at an interfaith vigil near the Islamic Center of San Diego (ICSD) on 19 May 2026 after two gunmen opened fire on worshippers a day earlier (Sandy Huffaker/AFP) Off The deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego has left southern California's Muslim community reeling, with grieving residents directing their fury at city leaders for ignoring years of warnings over rising Islamophobia. Two gunmen opened fire outside the mosque shortly before midday prayers on Monday, killing Amin Abdullah, 51, Nadir Awad, 57, and Mansour Kaziha, 78, known affectionately in the community as Abu Ezz. Police and the FBI are investigating the shooting as a hate crime, after discovering extremist writings linked to the attackers.