‘Hate crime’: Teen shooters leave 3 dead in attack on San Diego mosque

Two teenage attackers fatally shot three men at a mosque in San Diego, California, in a suspected hate crime, before taking their own lives, the BBC reports citing police.

The shooting took place on Monday morning, two hours after the mother of one of the suspects called police to say her son had run away with a friend and was possibly suicidal.

As news broke, US President Donald Trump called it a "terrible situation".

"I've been given some early updates but we're going to be going back and looking at it very strongly," he said during an unrelated White House event.

Meanwhile, among the victims was a security guard who worked at the centre and “played a pivotal role” in preventing the attack from being “much worse”, officials said.

“It’s fair to say his actions were heroic,” San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said. “Undoubtedly, he saved lives today.”

A witness speaking to CBS said he heard up to 30 gunshots from what sounded like "a semi-automatic weapon".

While authorities have not yet publicly identified the three victims, community leaders have identified the guard as Amin Abdullah.

Local media reports suggested he was a father of eight.

The two suspects found dead inside a vehicle were teenagers, authorities said.

Wahl said they were 17 and 19 years old.

Two hours before the attack, the mother of one of the suspects had called police to report that her son had left home with several of her guns and her car.

She further said he had gone with a companion, with both dressed in camouflage.

Wahl said police found the suspect's behaviour to be "not consistent" with someone who is considered suicidal.

A note the youth left behind also included "generalised hate rhetoric and hate speech", he said, adding there were no signs of suicidal intent.

Wahl added that the note contained no specific threat to the mosque, or to any other location or individual.

Police were first called to the mosque at 11:43 local time (18:43 GMT) and "observed what appeared to be three deceased victims out front", Wahl said.

It is noted that the Islamic Center campus – where the mosque was located — also houses the Al Rashid School, which offers religion and language courses.

Aerial video from the scene on Monday showed children holding hands and being escorted through a car park at the centre as police responded.

Nearby schools were also placed on lockdown.

California Governor Gavin Newsom released a statement that he was "horrified by today's violent attack" at the centre, "where families and children gather, and neighbors worship in peace and fellowship".

The state "will not tolerate acts of terror or intimidation against communities of faith", Newsom added.

Imam Taha Hassane, director of the Islamic Center of San Diego, said at a news conference: "It is extremely outrageous to target a place of worship."

The Muslim community is currently preparing for one of its holiest seasons and its biggest feasts – Eid al-Adha.