Mayor, Governor statements
After the shooting, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said he was aware of the situation and was continuing to receive updates.
“Emergency personnel are on scene and actively working to protect the community and secure the area,” Gloria said in a statement on X.
He urged residents to avoid the area of the shooting and follow the authorities’ instructions.
Later, he said there was no threat to the community and hailed the authorities for their quick response.
“@SanDiegoPD has confirmed that there is no ongoing threat to the community. Thank you to @SanDiegoPD, @SDFD, and all of our law enforcement partners who responded quickly to protect lives and secure the area,” he said on X.
He later provided an update, providing condolences to the victims against “Islamophobia.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom also commented on the shooting, offering condolences to those impacted by the violent attack.
“To the San Diego Muslim community: we stand with you,” Newsom said on X.
Islamic Centre of San Diego closed
Following the attack, the Islamic Centre of San Diego said in a statement that it will remain closed until further notice.
“At this time, law enforcement agencies have secured the area, and the immediate threat has been neutralised. We continue to work closely with the San Diego Police Department, FBI, and emergency responders as the investigation remains active,” the centre said.
“We respectfully ask the community and media to avoid speculation while authorities complete their investigation. Official updates should be relied upon from verified law enforcement and ICSD communication channels.”
The centre also said that additional updates will be provided, wishing recovery to those wounded and mercy to the ones who lost their lives.
The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), condemned the attack and hailed first responders for their efforts.
“We strongly condemn this horrifying act of violence at ICSD. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this attack. No one should ever fear for their safety while attending prayers or studying at an elementary school. We are working to learn more about this incident and we encourage everyone to keep this community in your prayers,” CAIR-SD Executive Director Tazheen Nizam said in a statement.
The centre’s imam, Taha Hassane, issued a statement assuring the community that the school is safe, including the kids, staff, and teachers, but urged everyone to stay away from the centre.
“Alhamdulellah, we are safe. The entire school is safe, all the kids, all the staff, all the teachers,” Hassane said in a statement.
“There is no threat at the moment, but we want everyone to stay away from the Islamic Center of San Diego. We are closed for the rest of the day. Stay safe.”
