A vigilant security guard may have helped prevent another potential attack at a Southern California mosque, only a month after a deadly mass shooting there claimed the lives of three worshippers.
The concerning episode occurred Thursday at the Islamic Center of San Diego, where security has remained elevated in the aftermath of the massacre carried out by teenage attackers Cain Clark and Caleb Vazquez.
Mosque officials said the guard noticed a vehicle driving around the property several times and promptly contacted law enforcement.
“Our security guard noticed that there was a car passing by multiple times,” Imam Taha Hassane told KGTV.
Hassane said officers who were already stationed at the mosque responded right away. He said they alerted other nearby officers to the suspicious vehicle, which was later found a short distance from the mosque, according to the San Diego Police Department.
“Thankful for having the officer here at the time, so he did what was supposed to be done, and the response of the law enforcement was done immediately,” Hassane said.
Police stopped the car and detained the person behind the wheel. Officers said they discovered “a Nazi flag as well as a suspicious canister” inside the vehicle.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the Metro Arson Strike Team was requested to respond and evaluate the suspicious item,” police said, adding that nearby homes and businesses were evacuated as a precaution.
“At this time, there is no active threat to the Islamic Center of San Diego,” per SDPD, who said the investigation remains ongoing.
The Imam said with it happening on the one-month anniversary of the shooting, it has put both his congregation and the entire neighborhood on edge.
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Despite the disturbing incident, Hassane said his community has slowly started to heal one-month after the deadly mass shooting.
“We are healing, we are recovering slowly, it’s a process, it’s going to take some time, but we are coming back stronger,” the Imam said.
In a June 12 message to congregants, mosque leaders said law enforcement has maintained a steady presence at the Islamic Center of San Diego as officials work closely with security experts in the wake of last month’s deadly attack.
“Law enforcement maintains a consistent presence at ICSD as our leadership works closely with safety professionals to monitor the situation,” the message said.
The mosque also revealed it is working with a private security firm to evaluate additional protective measures and is already rolling out interim precautions.
Among the changes under consideration are handheld metal detector screenings and a policy requiring visitors to leave bags and other large personal items in a designated area outside the building before entering.
Clark and Vazquez went on a deadly shooting rampage at the San Diego mosque on May 18, killing the Islamic center’s security guard and father of eight Amin Abdullah, who police say prevented more deaths, along with two members of the mosque, Nader Awad and Mansoor Kazziha, before turning the gun on themselves.
The shooters co-authored a manifesto, featuring the same Nazi imagery Clark donned in a livestream video of the horrific attack.
After the shooting, the livestream showed Clark shoot Vazquez twice in the head before turning the gun on himself.
Anti-Islamic writings were also found in the suspects’ vehicle, according to a law enforcement source.
The shooters’ motivations are unknown, though it appears to be a crime aimed at the Muslim faith.
The California Post reached out to the Islamic Center and the police department for further comment.
