An investigation is underway into a deadly shooting at a mosque in the US city of San Diego, which police and the FBI are treating as a hate crime. The three men who died are also being praised for their courage in drawing the attackers away from the school that was next to the place of worship.
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TRANSCRIPT
In the US city of San Diego, Imam Taha Hassane has led a vigil with members of the community to remember the three victims of a mosque attack.
They were shot and killed at the mosque earlier this week by two teens aged just 17 and 18, who were later found dead themselves.
"We are here to honour Brother Amin Abdullah, Brian Climax. We are here to honour Mansour Kaziha, Abu Ezz. Brother Abu Ezz."
He's been joined at the service by leaders of other faiths, including Christ United Presbyterian Church Reverend Kerry Allison.
"We will hold each other. We will affirm each other. And with the ability of God working through us, love will be greater than hate.”
The three men killed in the mosque shooting have been praised as beloved and respected members of the community who always thought of others.
San Diego Police chief Scott Wahl says their last moments reflected that, with two of the men drawing the attackers out into the mosque carpark, and the security guard at the Islamic Centre also taking action to stop the teens from entering a school next to the mosque.
"He immediately observed the threat to everybody at the mosque. He began to engage them with gunfire. Both suspects returned fire. You can see the security guard reach for his radio and put out the lockdown protocol. The security guard then continued to engage in a gun battle with these two suspects. His actions without a doubt delayed, distracted, and ultimately deterred these two individuals from gaining access to the greater areas of the mosque where as many as 140 kids were within 15 feet of these suspects. Tragically, he died in that gun battle."
Mark Remily is the lead FBI agent in charge of the investigation.
He says the two teenagers responsible for the attack met on the Internet when they shared white supremacist views.
"The victims who lost their lives... were there to help others be part of a community that came together in peace. Instead, they were confronted by teenagers who appeared to have been radicalised online to believe that they didn't belong because of how they looked or where they worshipped."
But the shooting is also the latest in a string of attacks on houses of worship and comes amid rising threats and hate crimes targeting the Muslim and Jewish communities since the beginning of war in the Middle East, forcing increases in security.
Internist Sarah Elfeky worships at the mosque in San Diego and says there are clearly broader issues that must be addressed.
"I mean, this is a rampant issue in this country, the shooting pandemic. And I think we need … you know, people are troubled there is a mental health epidemic. I think we need to really focus on mental health. We need to focus on why people are resorting to violence. And number two is like Islamophobia and hate and misinformation."
Public discourse surrounding the Muslim community - and the actions of public figures - have come under scrutiny following the attack.
Ramla Saheid is from the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans.
"The state-funded demonisation of Muslim Americans and the climate of anti-Muslim bigotry fuelled by the president and his white Christian nationalist allies has put a bright red target on our community."
Secretary of the US Council of Muslim Organisations, Oussama Jammal, says public officials and political leaders have a responsibility in shaping public discourse
"Those in positions and influence must exercise greater care and leadership because the inflammatory language has real world consequences and can contribute to a climate that makes tragedies such as this one here possible."
There are similar sentiments being expressed in Australia.
Australia's Lebanese Muslim Association spokesperson Gamel Kheir has urged the Albanese government to take action locally, saying the Australian Muslim community has been in fear of similar events happening on Australian soil.
Meanwhile, Australia's Special Envoy to combat Islamophobia Aftab Malik has released a statement that says rhetoric has been increasingly directed against Muslim community - and that kind of talk has real life consequences.
He has urged the federal government to urgently respond to his recommendations to combat Islamophobia.
STATEMENT VO: "In the first two weeks after the Bondi terror attack, Islamophobic incidents surged by 740 percent. Incidents targeting Muslims have increasingly involved violence... Across the country, Muslim communities are feeling anxious and vulnerable."
Back in San Diego, the city's Mayor Todd Gloria has promised tough action.
"I want to assure our Muslim community that we will do everything it takes to make sure that you can feel safe in this city, and no resource will be spared in making sure that our religious institutions and locations are protected in this sensitive time.”
Ramla Saheid says the Islamic Centre has always been an example of unity.
"The Islamic Centre is a national model for what it looks like to nurture and build interfaith solidarity. Our community is deeply grieving right now. We are horrified by the hate and bigotry that fuelled this violent act."
For Imam Hassane, the community is determined to keep going in a positive direction.
Student Reem Abdr is among those at the vigil who say they're determined to play their part.
"It's important for me to be here today because we need to show the community and how we all stand together and how whatever is going to happen in the future or whatever, we're always going to be together."
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