“No one should ever fear for their safety while attending prayers or studying at an elementary school,” the Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a statement. The group condemned what it called a “horrifying act of violence.”
The organization also noted that the attack comes amid rising anti-Muslim bias nationwide, citing a record 8,683 complaints of discrimination and Islamophobia reported in 2025.
The Islamic Center of San Diego issued a statement stating it will remain closed until further notice, describing the shooting as “an extremely painful and traumatic day” for its congregation, students, staff, and the wider San Diego community.
The Center urged the public to keep victims in their thoughts and prayers, avoid speculation, and allow authorities to complete their investigation into what occurred.
It added that “places of worship are meant to be spaces of peace, prayer, reflection, and community.” The statement also thanked first responders for their response and said information about counseling and additional support will be shared in the coming days.In response to the attack, the Los Angeles Police Department announced it is stepping up patrols around mosques, Islamic centers, and other places of worship across the city, located roughly two hours north of San Diego. Officials said there is currently no known threat to the Los Angeles area.
Ref: https://time.com/article/2026/05/18/islamic-center-san-diego-shooting/
